Blog Post #13

How can Project-Based Learning be used in Language Arts?

This assignment will address how Project-Based Learning can be used in a standard Language Arts classroom. Watch the following videos below and post a response to each of them. One may address more resources that are not currently present.

1. Watch Project Based Learning and Common Core Standards - Matt Gillispie, Lancaster City Schools  about Matt's project on mass hysteria.

2. Watch Project Based Learning and Common Core Standards - Kelli Marvin, Lancaster City School on Kelli's
3. Watch Apps for English Learners and discover what new apps are available to Language Arts educators.

Link to image: here

1. Matt Gillispe is an English teacher at Lancaster High school. His class has integrated the use of iPads and are using them for the majority of class. The project presented in this video is based on The Crucible written by author Aurthur Miller. Being written in the 1950's, Miller established the play as a parallel to the hysteria of the Salem witch trials to that of the communist fear of the Cold War. He began with an entry event where he told the class that there was someone caught cheating on an exam and if the student didn't come forward, the entire class would fail. It was a perfect example to instill the idea of mass hysteria to the classroom while also introducing the project which consists of a 5 minute presentation to the freshman class on mass hysteria. Matt was effectively able to apply common core standards to the project as well as touch on 21st century skills that included collaborating in groups and gathering resources from digital tools. Matt like most teachers in the school are trying to eliminate worksheets in the classroom and want the iPads to be used for a majority of the lessons. He believes that there is more room for creativity as well as quality of work when a student is challenged with something new and interesting.

  2. In Kelli's classroom, she discusses how the works of Shakespeare, primarily that of Othello, can be used with project-based learning to help students go above and beyond their potential. Considering Othello, the students were able to touch on the theme of rumors that plagues the characters of Othello. Students are able to relate to that theme as reputation means a great deal to a high school student from freshmen to the senior class. The students were put into groups depending on the degree of how important reputation is to a student and were told to present an iMovie to persuade their argument to their peers while also including information from Othello. The students use peer evaluation forms during presentation which allows the groups to obtain feedback from the audience on how effective their argument was. This project is a start to replacing papers completely which is a fantastic idea. It seems the students are more motivated and creative when given a project that can be detailed and personal other than a simple paper which doesn't consist of any collaboration or public speaking.

3. In this particular video, tech edge presents some essential apps with Language Arts. The first app is called Word mover which allows the user to move words from a document or from scratch and make a new text. This can be utilized to make ones own poetry or prose in the classroom with words that are either challenging or address the common core standards.The second app is called Letter Press where one can make words from a jumble of letters. This is competitive and once the words are selected in the box, those letters cannot be used increasing difficulty. This can be used to increase students diction in a more fun and interactive manner than just giving out worksheets full of puzzles.