STAR Legacy.

The STAR Legacy appears to be a very thorough module yet it seems to provide a "natural" transition for any lesson or any student.  I feel as though there would be no barriers present being that all lessons should provide the basic 5 steps found within:

1. Challenge
2. Initial Thoughts
3. Perspectives & Resources
4. Assessment
5. Wrap-Up

As with any lesson, these steps SHOULD already be included so I see this model being embraced to aid teachers in providing a higher quality lesson and ensuring they have included all necessary steps to ensure learning has taken place.  

In my own teaching, I could see using this model and applying it to each Unit.  I feel that it could easily be used per objective or topic, however I would be more interested in creating the multiple objectives (2 to 3) and providing a more lengthy module in which students are able to build on.  Here, they would be able to create a capstone project that is multi-faceted rather than specific to one topic.  This can ensure that students are more well-rounded in the content and understand how the "bits and pieces" found within the entire Unit fit together.

To see this take place online, as much as I'd hate to admit, I see this forming within a Wiki.  I believe having students utilize resources such as a PB Works wiki, could provide a wonderful platform/workspace where they can dig deep into each Unit.  Here they could provide reflective pieces for each step of the STAR model and provide a means of showing their capstone project.  With access to the course resources found within the Module, they could essentially reproduce the lesson in a way they may want to teach it.  This could later serve as an Exam Review item or a model for future students.

Anchored Instruction Environments

For this week, Anchored Instruction Environments truly provided a flashback to the previous week.  I can strongly see the similarities as outlined within the slide show regarding Situated Learning and PBL.  While I do feel this is more reflective of Goal Based Scenarios, I do feel that this model does strongly support academic achievement and comprehension amongst students.  What sticks out as most beneficial correlates most with the idea of embedded data.  By including the information and aligning learning to the steps similar to a story, I feel students would have an increased desire to complete a lesson.  The struggle here would be how to correlate each lesson to fit into a storyline format.

I would use this model for a potential lesson with my students.  Due to the various subjects in which I currently teach, I am unable to narrow down a specific lesson that can actually implement this model.  I feel that taking the time out to develop a marketing story may not be the easiest task to take on.  If I were in a situation where I could provide a to-do list or review the steps of a Marketing Plan, I could see this happening.  Other than that option...NO.  I feel that rather than modifying the model, I would have to refer back to the GBS or PBL model instead.  While I do feel the discussion elements are vital and important, the extension concept is what truly makes me want to test this model within a classroom.

Similarly to the GBS model, I see using a website to teach the students.  Here, the website would provide a template of what students would need to complete.  I feel this would almost mimic a scavenger hunt of some sort, yet provide the videos as suggested in the slideshow would be vital.  Having them create individual projects online via a website would essentially provide the independent element of thinking.  The application of knowledge would truly have to be reflective of the content that is later developed and presented via the webpage that is ultimately submitted for a grade.