Learning

     I admit that this project had me more frustrated and confused than I think I've ever been! But, now that the semester is coming to an end, it's all clear. This process taught me to think outside the box which now I see is what Dr. Umland was trying to teach us all along. I learned to use my creativity in ways that I never have before. I think that a project like this could be very useful in the classroom and do for my students what it did for me. This was something different and interesting. Difficult, granted, but it taught me so much.

   Although this project was very beneficial to my learning and thinking, I don't think that it's a replacement for the traditional research paper. There really is nothing like the process of researching, drafting, and editing a paper. Students must have the knowledge to find information. Even though most students find the majority of their information on the internet, the ability to access a library is something that I believe all students should know. Perhaps someday libraries will become obsolete and all information will be stored in a digital form, but until that day comes, the research paper is the best way to make sure that students have the knowledge to access print information.

   While, the research paper has a permanent place in my future classroom, I think that as technology advances, a project like we did could be so beneficial to students. It gives them a new outlet for creativity and allows them a different way of thinking. I think the some kids who don't do so well in a traditional classroom could do very well in a route like this project. I definitely think I will incorporate something like this into my future curriculum.