So, where are we now?

So, after reading the article, Knowledge, the disciplines, and learning
in the Digital Age by Jane Gilbert, and discussing how different content areas, (in different grade levels,) have similarities and differences, I'm thinking that I need to perhaps shift my focus to learning more about Project Based Learning, and if that would be more beneficial for my students.
We generally agree that we need to have some guidelines on the content for each grade that is important, but that really it is the skills and processes that should be the focus as these are the common parts. I believe these are what need to be in a student's backpack to equip them for the journey through life. The ability to read and understand what we are reading, and then to communicate our ideas; be it through writing, drama, art or oral language, is what is necessary to be successful. This includes being able to connect to prior knowledge, to shift and rebuild the blocks within our brains and synthesize ideas.
So, what can I do? I try already to build connections and to show my students where this links to "real life" outside of the classroom, and how the new skills and concepts are not to used in isolation and that they are building blocks for future learning. I've found this leads to more discussion within the classroom, and that my students seem to be more wiling to try new things, and to approach tasks with less fear, when they see that it's not just "for a test," or unit specific. I hope to stay conscious of the need to do this, and will plan my instruction this way. Hopefully, it will work!

Next, how can technology be used across the content areas? Hmm, well, there's the obvious that jumps to mind.... I can use videos to show content specific and linked ideas, we can use the internet for research, we can type up our findings, we could listen to books on cd/podcasts, etc. The challenge will be to stay balanced, and be sure that what I'm doing is relevant and helpful to the students.

I found last year that by teaching the students some different ways to use software to share their learning (keynote, comic life, ebsco sites, word, etc.) that when given a choice as to if they wanted to use traditional pencil and paper or technology to demonstrate their learning and create a project at the end of a unit, almost all chose technology. I tried to have a rubric that included the content I needed to see, and the processes, but the way that students chose to present their learning was open ended. I was impressed with some of the students that created some great work, and normally do very little. In particular, a couple of the boys that are often disengaged were using their classroom time well, and lab time, and though their work may have not be as shiny and polished as some who use the computer often or who are artistic, they still had the necessary components and did well on the assignments. This was rewarding for both them, and for me. I love to see them reach their potential and impress themselves as well as others! I want to do that again.