Final Project Ideas

Thought Process

Please interpret the following ramble as an nebulous exploration of ideas. To take a risk and be vulnerable, I'm going to post something less edited and more stream of consciousness than I'm usually won't.

Lit Review

I perused the slide deck quickly for ideas and liked that the projects all focus on a skill or problem of a classroom and use an element of technology as a point of interjection in that, in hopes of improving student learning. I like the focus on literature and options in some.

A digital choice board sound like a good idea, but I'm dubious of its effect in my context. I have considered this in a paper version for homework a t my school. I'd like to see how this goes before considering an in class digital version.

Last year, I focused a lot on students becoming better readers. Next year, I'd like to focus on them becoming better writers. I'd like my project to focus on building this skill.

I read Adrienne's post and saw she hopes to use Canva as a tool. I applaud this, but don't know Canva well enough. Although there is merit to learning along with students. I don't mind the idea of putting something in front of them and seeing what comes of it, not knowing in advance.

Wet Cement

My concrete ideas at this time are as follows:

1. Have students collaborate to write an essay. Have a group of 4 share a google doc and instruct them to write a 5 paragraph essay in a single class block. The time crunch will make sure everyone is contributing. And it will lower the stakes a little. I'll say up front, I know the strangeness of the task, I just want to see what comes of it. Students can choose how to delegate. They can agree on a thesis, then one can grab quotes, another can start writing claims, another can outline the essay, etc.. They can see the "jobs" of essay writing.

2. Have students re-write a paper using AI. After students write a paper in a traditional way. I'd ask them to write the same paper in a short period of time using AI. This could take on a few different forms:

        a. One version could be like a race: write a passable 7th grade paper the fastest.

        b. One could look more challenging and sneaky: write a paper using AI that would pass through an AI checker. What prompts did you use?

        c. Or it could be an exploration of prompt writing. The goal would be to share and discover useful ways to use a series of prompts to accomplish the goal.

        d. A last option could focus on originality. Students could attempt to create something I wouldn't expect but technically fits the criteria the essay was asking for. Like perhaps it's written in a slam poetry voice ... I don't know.

The AI experiment option is not super appealing to me, especially after yesterday's discussion. But I may, in time, warm to it.