Wicked Project Part D Immplementaion

• Formative: Did the project get implemented as planned?

I am about 3 1/2 weeks away from implementing my project.  I will implement Schoology with all of my classes (Contemporary Literature, Junior English (3 classes), and Composition at the beginning of the school year. I will also start with the PBL lessons at the beginning of the year as well.  

• Summative: Evidence of success in addressing the problem of practice

I will know if Schoology is successful when my students sign up correctly, start using the calendar, posting their own finings, find assignments, and blog questions.  I will be happy when my students start going to Schoology to let me know they are finished with their assignments and asking me questions about the PBL lessons.  My hope is for them to look for answers on Schoology first instead of waiting for the next day to ask me.  I hope to utilize the blog feature for students to use to ask those burning questions they cannot answer themselves. 

• How would you approach another project of this type differently given what you’ve learned here?

I would plan out more than just the first few weeks.  I would look at more long term assignments and try to plan out the first nine weeks instead of just the first two.  I have learned to wait for the implementation in order to look at groups ( I cannot make groups until all my students have signed up for the class) and what they can do.  This is something I cannot help, but it is something that I have to get together and know quickly before my students start using the group function.  I think I also need to create a tutorial type video for all my classes.  If I can walk my students through the sign-up process then they can sign up at home and then we can go through other steps with them at school.  I will do this will Diigo and Blogger.  I would look at the different tutorial videos myself and see how I can improve them.

• What are the lessons learned that others might benefit from knowing about?

One of the lessons that I learned is that you should create a "dummy" student account so you can see what the students see.  I found this very interesting from the student's perspective and I can then look at possible hookups.  

Again I cannot stress the importance of planning.  A person needs to think about posts, blog questions, resources, and assignments.  They also need to consider letting parents and administrators be part of the Schoology in order look at students' assignments, due dates,and blog questions and answers.

Another lesson I learned is that I really need to look at the updates on Schoology.  I found one that made lessons progressive.  A student cannot go on to the next step unless they have completed the first one and this is all made possible with they way you put in the lessons.  I had to then chunk up my bigger projects and put them in differently.  This will be easier on me and it will chuck up the assignments for the students.

• In what ways will you endeavor to do the same project again, and what will you change or not do?

I have to say so far if everything goes like the way I think they will go I will use Schoolgy all year long.  I have not found a site that has just about everything I need in one site to keep my classes organized.  I like the fact that Schoology is always changing and implementing new aspects of the site.  I would love to change the way my classes sign-up for Schoology, I would have everyone signed up at the beginning of school and have students in groups already put into place (with options to modify as the weeks go by)

So, as of now I would not change anything...but I won't know this until I have used Schoology with my students for a while.