Reading reflection #5

1. There are a couple things that you need to consider before starting a project with students. The first thing is inventory, make sure to check what supplies, tools, and other materials are available at the school or materials parents can help out with. If you look into this ahead of time, you can have a fund raiser or put out the word to gain the materials you still need. It's important not to overlook your community resources, there are a lot of places that are willing to help out teachers! Look into it! Take into consideration if the technology you will be using for the project is new to the student. If so, make sure to plan time before the project is introduced to the students to learn about and practice using the technology. It will have you a lot of time and a headache! Also think about how you plan on accessing the technology often if you need it. For further research, keep in mind if your students will need to seek expert answers and plan accordingly, plan guest speakers or plan for a field trip. Make sure to consider who can help out with the project. Help is always beneficial and the students will love new faces! 

2. It is beneficial to make a project calendar full of milestones that need to be hit along the way. It will be good for your students to see the management behind the project and will influence their management skills positively! Make sure students are aware of the little deadlines for the project along the way, it might be a fun idea for the students to make a plan of their own as well so they always have the dates handy.

Teachers management needs:
- tools for communication with students and others included in the project.
- tools for making milestones and events visible. Example: calendar. 
- methods for getting resources to students.
-systems for managing work products.

Students management needs:
- systems and tools that help them mage their time and work.
- systems that help students manage materials and control.
- collaboration tools.
- methods for seeking assistance.
- ways to work iteratively and to see how parts add up to the whole.

3. Some technology applications that should be considered are creating a website or blog. This is a good way for students to voice their opinions on issues or post their work for everyone to see. I think its a great idea for students to post their work online because not only can the teacher see it but other students! They can constantly be learning for one another even over the weekend when their at home. Drupal and Textpattern are more sophisticated web spaces that are a combination of sentient management framework and blogging. They have plugins such as forums and surveys. 

4. Concepts in this chapter relate to our project topic because we want our students to use technology. We have to take into consideration of all the aspects of the project that need to be addressed before the project even begins such as teaching them about new technology they have never operated before. It also pointed out a lot about time management which is crucial in a project like this!