PBL

The use of technology in classrooms has dramatically changed and enhanced the way subjects are being taught. Previously, teachers used chart boards and did not frequently involve students in the lessons. Because of this, students were frequently lost and disengaged from the lesson thus making the learning experience unproductive. For the most part, today’s teachers are required to use technology in the classrooms. Most importantly, teachers must frequently engage students in the lessons with the use of technology. Most classrooms have Smart Boards and access to a Wi-Fi connection to satisfy this requirement. The Alabama College and Career Ready Standards is built around the Common Core Curriculum. The Common Core Curriculum involves developing problem solving skills, enhancing critical thinking skills, and participating in project based learning.

First, the use of technology in the classroom helps satisfy the component of developing students’ problem solving skills. In a traditional classroom, students are frequently given worksheets or asked to answer the questions at the end of a chapter in the textbook. Consequently, assignments like those do not help develop problem solving skills. Now teachers can develop lessons for the SmartBoard that focuses on problem solving skills. In addition, there are sites like exchange.smarttech.com/‎ which have premade lessons for teachers to use in their classrooms. For example, some of the lessons offered requires students to critically think about the problem and actually become engaged in solving the problem. Simply put, the students will not be able to get by through quickly choosing a multiple choice answer.

Next, Common Core involves enhancing critical thinking skills. The use of technology in helps develop this skill by offering students different ways to approach a problem or question. For example, a student will be able to create things using technology and gain hands on experience concerning that particular lesson. Students will be involved in project based learning. Anthony Capps talked about having an authentic audience, student interest, involving the community, and the projects being driven by content. By doing those things, critical thinking skills and problem solving skills can be developed through project based learning.