Chapter 8 Reading Reflection

There are many ways to build connections and branch outside of the classroom through project based learning. One would be to connect with experts. Asking experts can help students to broaden their horizons, and probe real life, authentic ways for students to learn all the facts and the opinions. Even though connecting our students with experts requires extra work on our end, both students and teachers benefit. Teachers should be continually looking to connect with experts of all different fields. When a teacher can bring in an expert, the teacher should prepare the students by having them come up with questions and preparing them. Another way would be to expand the learning circle through connecting our students with others on a national and international level. By bringing people together across distances using technology, students understand the globalization of learning. Online collaboration is really active in extending the learning experience as well.
The EAST Initiative Movement is an Environmental and Spatial Technologies Initiative network of schools that utilize geospatial technologies and multimedia tools  to solve problems and make improvements in the community. The EAST Initiative started in Arkansas in 1996, and now includes more than 260 schools in seven states. The EAST Initiative model is based on the ideas of student based learning, authentic project-based learning, technology as tools, and collaboration. Another really important component is training and support for teachers. Teachers now become facilitators, where they have to work with student teams using interdisciplinary learning, teaming, authentic projects, and student driven learning. There are different phases in EAST training, and these all contribute to the greater goal of connecting with the community.
Letting students "lead" the project is important. As students feel comfortable and learn more about their topics, they can begin to generate their own ideas and expand into a leader role. It is very important for our students to feel in control of their projects and especially their learning. When they feel in control and a real part of the project, they are more engaged and benefit more fully.
Connecting students with others on a broader scale is important to expand their experiences, as is the EAST Initiative to get students connected with their community. However, this chapter really relates to our PBL because we need to provide students with opportunities to let them lead their own projects. As teachers, our lessons must be directed towards open, authentic ways to let students really take the lead. When we are thinking of ways to create our projects and our lessons, we need to be mindful of making the project make sense, but also that it is open enough and general enough to allow students independence.