Class Magazine

An idea for an IT-assisted project I have for a social studies or English class is a “Class Magazine.” It would be similar to a school newspaper but not as structured or in a tradional format. Students would form groups based on their interests and then research a topic and write an article on it. So, for example, students into sports could write something about the football team; students into music could write about a band in the school or about an artist they like; students who like a particular TV show, book, social issue, or movie could write about that; a lot of things could be written about, and it would be fun for students and cater to their interests. The students could use word processing, graphic design, spreadsheets, and other software and hardware IT applications. The project would also make good use of the multiple intelligences in that students would be interacting, being creative, and pursuing their interests be they musical, physical, and artistic, etc.

Of course certain parameters must be set for such a project; students would only be able to cover subjects that are school-appropriate and hold at least some educational value. Schedules, time limits, content expectations, and milestones must be set up. Self, group, and class assessments must be implemented, and the project needs to explained clearly to the students so they know what they are working towards. The teacher must also be able to motivate the students along the way and make sure that they are making adequate progress and working together in an acceptable fashion.

Parameters, content, and behavior issues aside, this could be a fun and enjoyable project for students. They could pursue their interests and build IT, group work, thinking and writing skills in the process.

Time Management

Time management in project based learning is crucial. Since students are working on their own, they must have an idea of when things will be due and how much time they’ll have to complete each part, etc. It’s important that they are aware of time constraints so they’ll finish the project in a timely manner. I like the idea of milestones and goals and setting up specific schedules for projects. Say if it’s a research project, it’s a good idea to have a couple days for research, a day or two for writing, a day or two for editing, and a day for tying up loose ends and making final adjustments. Setting such a schedule allows students to work at a measured pace toward a specific goal. Students will also be better off in knowing exactly what they need to do, what is expected of them, and how much time they’ll have to complete the project. Setting a schedule and having milestones is vital to any project based learning activity.

The only downside I can see in having a schedule is that some students might feel rushed and become stressed. Deadlines are stressful things, but they are a part of life students will inevitably deal with in some form or another regardless of whichever occupation they choose.  It’s best to prepare students for such realities of life as soon as possible, in my opinion; however, we should be setting realistic deadlines and milestones for them that are achievable, and teachers should make a strong  effort to help their students achieve these goals.

Lastly, when doing an IT based project, special consideration should be paid to students from economically disadvantaged homes. It’s not fair to give all students take home IT assignments if they do not all have Internet or computer access. Accommodations should be made for students to stay after school and use a computer lab if take home work IT work is required. Students should also be given realistic homework assignments and not have too much piled upon them. While they do need to be challenged, they also don’t need to be overwhelmed. Teachers should be careful not to assign too much but also not to make the projects too easy for students.