Project-Based LearningJessica Langvardt

LifeSkills Center

Population› Young men and women ages 16-22› Varying abilities/needs

Circumstances› Have a child/children› Need to work to provide for family› Have been kicked out of traditional

school(s)› Are too old to attend public school

Curriculum Graduates

Computer-based

Book-based

Subdued not motivated

Content not driven

What is Project-Based Learning?

Do you ever feel like you’re pushing your students through the course you teach, or herding reluctant cattle with a combination of encouragement, rewards, and threats? In Project Based Learning, it’s different. Students are pulled through the curriculum by a meaningful question to explore, an engaging real-world problem to solve, or a design challenge to meet. Before they can do this, they need to work with other students to inquire into the issues raised, learn content and skills, develop an answer or solution, create high-quality products, and then present their work to other people. This process creates a strong need to know and understand the material. And that’s the key to increasing students’ motivation to learn in PBL – give them a real need to know, understand, and demonstrate what they learn, beyond simply getting a good grade.

- PBL Starter Kit

Keys to Implementation

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND CRAFT THE DRIVING QUESTION PLAN THE ASSESSMENT MAP THE PROJECT MANAGE THE PROCESS

Implementation

Significant Content Need to Know Driving Question Student Voice and Choice 21st Century Skills Inquiry and Innovation Feedback and Revision Publicly Presented Product

Implementation State Standards Critical Friends Entry Event

› Engagement, Expectations, Vocabulary “Need to know” List Rubric

› Timelines, Essential Elements Group Contract Research and Collaboration Assessment and Adjustment Presentations Final Assessment

Assessment Categories

Learning Outcomes Written Communication Oral Communication Collaboration Critical Thinking Work Ethic Technology Literacy Numeracy/Integration Global Awareness/Community engagement

Variations

Student inquiry

TeacherQuestion

StudentProjects

Teacher Projects

8 weeks 3 days

SocialStudies

L.A. Math ScienceIntegration

Results/Benefits

Students practice written and verbal communication

Problem-solving Collaboration Higher-Level Thinking Improve long-term retention of content

How is this God honoring?

God reflecting?

Students as Image-Bearers

Recognizes creativity Acknowledges ability to think rationally

and critically Dependency/Collaboration Encourage individual strengths Grace in assessment

Reality of PBL

Teachers cannot “cover” as much material as they could using lectures, worksheets, and textbooks

Questions

Do you have the freedom in your classroom to implement PBL?

Will you make the time to collaborate with colleagues and/or students to implement PBL effectively?

Is your desire for your students to develop deep understanding stronger than “covering” material?

Resources

Edutopiahttp://www.edutopia.org/stw-project-

based-learning-best-practices Buck Institute of Educationhttp://www.bie.org/about/what_is_pbl