The examples of the Integrated Final Projects are designed based on the concepts from the Reiser article using the TEAMS curriculum. Each of the different lesson plans has the break down of activities for each discipline unit/rotation, then there are the four types of activities within each rotation.
Team teaching is a concept that I really like. I think that it helps make the students see the interconnectedness of their learning, and makes some of the more “abstract” classes seem more real world applicable. I think that while it could take more work on the teachers side of things because they do have to get together more often to collaborate with the other teachers. But I do think that it can help direct a teacher in terms of what they teach. Teachers do have to be more willing to collaborate with the other teachers to make this function, and if one teacher isn’t doing their share then the system breaks because they are all reliant on one and another. With the particular TEAMS curriculum, I would like to see it implemented to see how the four activities actually end up playing out, and how they work. It depends on the teachers if this ends up being worthwhile. I think that it has a lot of potential to be a huge success, but I think it’s also got a lot that can go wrong. The teachers need to be excited about using this and need to put in the extra energy to make this work the way that it should, or else it can completely fall flat. They also need to help keep their kids motivated about working with this, or it would end up being a huge waste of time for both the students and the teacher.
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I agree it would take more cooperation on behalf of the teacher, to work with other teachers to coordinate lesson plans. But usually things that are more effective take the most time. I had the same concern regarding the students staying motivated in groups. But the study of this program implimented resulted in students being "on task to a greater extent than when they are receiving whole group instruction." It's proven effective!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the cooperation factor. I think a lot of the time, teachers like to do things their own way and taking the time to collaborate with 2 or 3 other teachers frustrates them. On an elementary level, I think teachers are more apt to working this way, but moving toward middle-school and high school, the teachers may be a little less inclined to work with other teachers, especially across content areas.
ReplyDeleteI really like what you say with the abstract classes seeming more real world. It is sometimes hard in a math or science class for the students to realize that the topics are important to the life that they live. Collaboration between teachers can be frustrating, but at the same time, cohesion in academics makes it easier for the students to see real world connections.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of times students actually are aware of the real world applications of what it is they are learning--they just deny it. I would say, this is a result of them disliking education in general; that is, it's the pedagogy that struggles , so why not claim impracticality for subject areas they detest and move on? I know I've done it before. What the TEAM module purports is cohesiveness, a sort of complete integration so students are stimulated at all levels while never losing that desire to learn. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying all students want to learn; I'm not even saying students ever want to learn; but I am saying when implemented properly, the TEAM module can function as way to get students to participate in education that would not have normally taken interest, or never had any desire to learn. It has something to do with diverse approaches to learning, a different way of "seeing" something.
ReplyDeleteOh, and by the way, I like cheese.
This is off topic, but yes there will always be the kids that dislike education in general. Notice how I refer to them as kids and not students. Students imply the sense of the being in education and learning. Kids do not want to learn and will deny the real world applications because they have no goals in the future to apply it to. This is sad, but as you pointed out this TEAM module can function as a way to get students to participate in education that would not have normally taken interest :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and by the way, Bring on the cheese !!!!
I absolutely agree with what you said! This is one of those projects that can either be a huge success, or a complete failure...and I don't think there's much room for an in-between. I've talked with several teachers who are invoved in these sorts of team teachings and they all really enjoy it and say the kids get a lot out of it!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm not a huge fan of team teaching unless it is an effort among people who work well together and have experience as a team. That said, one always has to start somewhere. Personally, I'm not too sure I like this idea. I love the multigenre, but I'm not too keen on collaborations that can be ruined by one poor teacher.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the idea that team teaching really does allow for the most abstract classes to seem more applicable and, as you put it, "real world" and "everyday", but on the other side, the downfall is the same as when you work in groups in a middle or high school: there will be that one person who doesn't put as much effort into it as the overachievers.
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