Self-Regulation and Continuous Learning

Working independently or within a group is something that requires a lot of each you. In order to be successful in college you must be able to set and meet goals to become a self-directed learner. What does that mean? If a professor says, "write an 800 word paper on Government due in one month?" How would you do it? What are some steps you might take to meet the professor's demand? (Leave a comment on the blog right now with a few steps you might take as a self-directed learner)

Self-Regulation is an important part of assessing your own progress on any given task. To self-regulate your own work, you have to set some basic goals, know when they have been met, and if they meet necessary standards. Part of of this process of self-regulation first requires you to think about your own style of learning. Answer the following questions on your blog in a new post:

1. What is the best environment (home, school, work, etc.) for your learning?
2. Where do you choose to study?
3. Where do you choose to work creatively?
4. How do you work with others?
5. What is your favorite way of learning (listening, looking, doing, etc)?
6. What do you think are your talents or strengths (arts, writing, speaking, problem solving)?
7. Where do your personal interests lie?
8. Do you check for accuracy and precision?
9. Are you persistent in developing your work?

Self-regulation begins with your own internal reflection on how you learn and work best. Once you start to realize your strengths you can start to work towards those on your own. If you have finished your self-evaluation, take a moment to set three individual goals about for developing your project next week. Also set one group goal. Discuss this briefly with your group. Email me your goals, and I will give you feedback about your goals.

Project Work Groups

As we start to transition into our individual project work we also need to work more effectively. Today we need to re-organize our class into groups that are doing the most similar work, not simply who we like to sit with. As your begin your projects, I will be working with groups on specific lessons and ideas that relate to those projects. Today, we will decide upon the group categories, break into small groups and then you will work together to come up with a list of questions/needs.

The groups will conduct their work in the following manner. Everyone will individually write down two or three things they need to know about their project. Then, everyone will share their questions one at a time with the group. If anyone knows the answer for the question or how to help, please share with your group. When you have all gone around, chose the most important questions you want lessons on or help with in your group. Write them down on a big sheet of paper and hang up the questions near your table. One person will present the questions to the class.

Project Proposal

Portfolio Project Proposal

Now that everyone has had some time to think and re-think your individual portfolio project it is time to submit a formal written proposal by Wednesday March 19th. The proposal will be included in your 1st marking period grade as a major project, because it should reflect all the thought and energy you have devoted to your project so far. For many of you, this is an opportunity to improve your grade by putting together all of the little steps you may have missed into a clearly written, one page document that outlines your independent portfolio project.

A formal proposal is a requirement for thesis papers, projects, grants, small businesses, and studies to a name few examples where writing is a key part of getting funding or permission to develop your own idea. In college or career it is an integral part of getting things done in a competitive environment. Being able to clearly and directly state your or someone else’s ideas, plans, and rationale is a very important skill. Grant writing, a specific kind of proposal where individuals and groups propose ideas for funding, can be a full-time job.

Your proposal should touch upon all of the steps we taken so far in our planning, but now you will have to refine your project idea into a clear thesis statement. This statement will guide the rest of your proposal like it would guide an essay or report. Please use the following outline to structure your proposal.

• Please introduce your project and what is important about it. Please list the main ideas that your project will address. Examples include what will be communicated, what you will learn, or how it will demonstrate the habits of mind.
• Please provide a rationale your project by supporting your main ideas. Please provide an analysis of any research questions you have, planning you have done, materials or skills you will need, and what evidence you will use to support your idea. Please explain why it is important, how it will affect others, and how it connects to the larger community.
• Please discuss how the project reflects you as a unique individual and what it will add to your portfolio presentation that is not present in your other work. How does the project reflect your creativity and risk-taking?
• Conclude your proposal by discussing your commitment to the project. Discuss what challenges you will face and possible solutions. Briefly discuss your strengths and weaknesses working on projects.

Your proposal must be a minimum of four paragraphs or one page, typed and double-spaced in 12 pt Times font with your name. It may not exceed two pages.

Materials List

By next Tuesday you should have your blog completely caught up to today's assignment, which is to create a list of materials that you will need to complete your project. Your materials can be both physical; paper, paint, video cameras and academic; learning how to use Flash, how to use Photoshop, or edit a video. Think about what you will need and what you will need to learn or learn more about. Type up a list of everything you could possibly want to use and know, don't worry about whether or not we can actually get it yet. Think big first. Post your list on your blog using the list feature.