PBL in the English Classroom

HSC IS A BLUNT INSTRUMENT … AND WE’RE ALL BEING HACKED TO DEATH BY IT ONE MINDLESS, PRE-PREPARED ESSAY AT A TIME!!

What does PBL look like in the

English classroom?

Year 10

Poetry:

Can Cyborgs Write Poetry?

Product:

Own poem conveying response to DQ. Poem Video

Presentation:

Open-night video display

Year 10

Novel:

'Can stories help young people in the 21st century develop resilience?’

Product:

Anthology of short stories published as an eBook.

Presentation:

Book launch for parents and invited guests.

Year 10

Shakespeare – Macbeth:

‘What makes an individual powerful?’

Product:

Entry into a promotional poster design competition.

Presentation:

Entries displayed in school library.

Year 10

Area of Study

DQ: How can we make a film for an online community to change people's view on individuals and authority?

Product: short film

Presentation: films shown in class & put on YouTube

Year 11: Extension

Appropriations of Texts

DQ: IS LITERATURE (RE)SHAPED BY OR FOR THE WORLD?

Product: Website and appropriation

Presentation: To class and online community

What does a PBL classroom

look like?

WHAT ARE THE KEY

ELEMENTS?

DRIVING QUESTION

REAL-WORLD PROBLEM

ASSESSMENT = FORMATIVE & SUMMATIVE

ASSESSMENT:BEGINNING

MIDDLEEND

INVESTIGATIONS

PRODUCTS

21st CENTURY SKILLS

(Habits of Mind)

PLANNING

REFLECTION(goals, medals,

missions)

REAL-WORLD AUDIENCE

PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF LEARNING

What tools do I need?

TOOLS• PLANNING, RUNNING, REFLECTION PROFORMA

• rubistar

• edmodo

• netbooks/ipods/iphones/laptops/computers

• google docs

• PBL online scaffolds

• Video cameras and video editing software

• internet

• ClassDojo

• http://edu.memiary.com/

What skills do I need?

SKILLS

• persistence

• patience

• creativity

• good rapport with your students

• resilience

• learn to manage team work

• leadership

What problems will I

encounter?

PROBLEMS

• resistance from students (esp. top students)

• frustration of students

• frustration with systems (assessment schedule, external examinations)

• lack of team-work skills from students

• lack of research skills in students

• passive learners

• parents: is my child learning?

Where do I go for resources?

RESOURCES

• EDUTOPIA:

http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning

• BUCK INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION:

http://www.bie.org/

• PBL ONLINE:

http://pbl-online.org/

Where do I go for support,

help, inspiration?

HELP

• edmodo:

http://davidson.edmodo.com/biancahewes

• twitter:

@biancah80

• blog:

www.biancahewes.wordpress.com