In the article by Larmer & Mergendoller I definitely see the benefits of using technology to enhance the opportunities of helping students to feel the “energy” created by stimulating their interest and excitement towards project learning. The “need to know” aspect is where this “energy” can be harvested. I compare it to my own experiences of watching a breathtaking special on the Discovery channel about the depletion of the rain forest and the way in which the camera and statistics made me passionate about what I as an individual could do to be more green. My little sister became passionate about the bizarre depletion of bees after having a guest speaker come into her class. Big picture? Get me excited about doing something and I will excel at the assignment, project, campaign…whatever it is, if it strikes a chord inside of me then it will become a learning experience and not something I just need to get done. This last statement correlates with the author’s second criterion of a project serving an “educational purpose”. To this point I ask myself, how can this component really happen in a way that creates a lasting impact without them feeling some “energy” about it? The student is going to move through the project by checking off all its requirements rather than having it serve as a vessel to get excited about learning if some “energy” isn’t there.
I love the story that you told about your sister. I think this is also a sign of what you learned in class the other day! It definitely struck a cord with me becasue just the way this class is set up I can't stop talking about it with my coworkers. players, and friends. This course is helping me not only connect with technology, but it actually makes me excited to do homework or search for new topics, or see how I can transfer what I learned in class to my daily life. The reason why I started this whole program was feeling the calling to do "more" and challenge myself. I am excited that I can see myself even more motivated to finish this program to get out there and try to put all my ideas into action. This is also a way to connect all of us and not just learn from the professors (who are great!) but from amazing classmates sucha s yourself!
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