PBL Problem-Solving By The Frisch School FacultyAugust 2013

How much of the curriculum is covered in

PBL?Is an entire

course supposed to be

PBL?

PRACTICAL:1) PBL integrated into

HW; project-based assessments

2) mini-units of PBL3) Textbooks with a

PBL bent

DISRUPTIVE:1) Redesign whole year’s timeline

around projects 4-5 x a year2) Kids take class in PBL prior to

PBL class3) Self-selected group in PBL

course

“BLUE-SKY” IDEAS:1) Mini-semester of

PBL in January2) Facts downloaded into brain like in the

Matrix movie

How can we teach

students to be

independent learners?

Introduce and provide

fundamental skills

Start small and create a cumulative effect that is measureable

Build incentives and

rewards throughout the process

and demonstrate

the functionality

of the knowledge

How does one use PBL in an AP course?

PRACTICAL:1) Students write

sample AP questions and why wrong

answers are incorrect. Other

students take those sample tests for

practice.

DISRUPTIVE:1) Two-year curriculum

instead of one2) Make a two-class model:

one class to learn AP material, second class to apply

“BLUE-SKY” IDEAS:

1) Abolish AP’s in the school

2) Joint program with theatrical group in

the school to act out psychological

conditions, e.g. (for AP Psych class) so

students can diagnose using info

from textbook

How to be sure all

students are having a

sophisticated learning

experience

PRACTICAL:1) “GoogleDocs”: The

contributors are tracked by color

2) “Self-Portraits”: Students film themselves

working3) “Punishment”: Penalize

students who aren’t working or invested

4) “Mystery Recorder”:Everyone writes; only one

is collected “BLUE-SKY” IDEAS:

1) “Crystal Ball”: Teacher can watch and grade every student equally.2) “Future-World Technology”: Use

technology implants such as Google Glass so

even sick or absent students can participate

What do you do if groups aren’t

working?

PRACTICAL:1) Remind students that contracts were signed

2) Change group members

3) Re-evaluate goals4) Set different tasks

for each session5) Teacher oversees

group to analyze why it’s not working

PRACTICAL, CONT.:6) Foster team-building skills, e.g, respect, cooperation, team spirit7) Assign specific tasks to each

member of group 8) Limit time of session

“BLUE-SKY” IDEAS:1) Bribe students

2) Hypnotize students

How can the teacher

ensure all members of

the group are having a similar

learning experience?

PRACTICAL:1) Agree on rubric

before project starts2) ) Learn students

individual strengths and apply assignments based on strengths2) Assign a different task to each student

3) Combine team work with individual work

CONTINUED:4) Give written test to ensure

5) Every student needs to present6) Ask students to share their

experience and say what they got out of the project

CONTINUED:7) Give students voice

as to what they want to learn

Would PBL be

adaptable to a

math/science class?

PRACTICAL:1) Project – essential

question, need to know, relevance in

real world, etc. – will lead to math and

science skills students need

DISRUPTIVE:1) Allow extensive math/science

coordination (math teachers teach science and vice versa)

2) Allow AP sci/math to meet at least two periods a day

“BLUE-SKY” IDEAS:1) Purchase advanced, sophisticated research equipment so students

can do serious research