My actions were very successful in meeting my goals for this project. The students really listened to what I had to say before we left for thanksgiving break and are on their way in their project. They seemed to pay attention to what needed to be included and how to begin with their work load. I feel as if I had handed them a paper with all of the instructions on it instead of them taking notes and going from there. I have learned that the students need to have basic instructions in order to get started and from here we will go into further detail about what needs to be done. As the weeks progress, they will receive more material to go through and will be able to get a jump start from where they are right now.
I guess that I still have to learn that students will not begin doing their work until the day before it is due. Many students are going on the right track by beginning their work and getting ahead, but some will do nothing and hand it all in on the last day. I can guess that this can be expected from a few who have been like this all year. There really aren't any questions that have come to mind except for why do these students wait so long to do the work when they can be doing it all along and getting input on the work they have done. It bothers me some, but I have realized that it can't upset me or otherwise I will be going nuts. Everything seems to be running smoothly at the current time, so I will let them run along and do what needs to be done. Throwing to many different things at them will only confuse them, so I will let it go as it has been the past week.
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I agree. You can go over all the details in depth for hours, but when you get to the project, or lab, you still have students who ask "what are we supposed to do?" I tried with my last science lab to "preteach" 2 students in each class the lab in advance and let them be my lab assistants for the day. (I call them my lab rats - and let them wear a couple of old Starbucks aprons I got used from a local store.) It helps because now there are three of us who can wander and help - I it's great to watch those intrapersonal student/peer relationships develop in an educational setting.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was in school I would do that a lot too. Wait until the last minute, stay up late with classmates finishing up projects, etc. I'm sure we've all gone through that one way or another. Even now, I sometimes find myself scrambling on Sunday night to finish a Walden assignment, or hurrying to get my lesson plans done for the week.
ReplyDeleteWe will always have students like that, but I'm confident that soon enough they will see how much better they can perform and how much easier the work is if they plan ahead and do it with time to spare.
It seems like your project is off to a great start, I'm sure your students will be thrilled when it really starts rolling.
Good luck!
Cesar