What is PBL?

MOP Summer Institute 2017

Rory & Lia

What is PBL - These two

are often used interchangeably… But!

Project vs. Problem

Why we prefer “Problem” over “Project”

From March presentation: Project-based units 9 criteria

• Alignment with Standards***

• Authentic Purpose

• Task (open-ended and constructionist)

• Depth – a least 1 week

• Breadth -interdisciplinary

• Investigation/Explorationfrom multiple sources

• Scaffolded – accessible to all levels of students

• Language Development –clear language objectives

• Assessment – formative throughout and summative measure

Advantages of Problem Based Learning…

• Effective in enhancing comprehension; developing social skills; retention of content knowledge; enhancing student motivation; and the promotion of life-long learning (Lambros, 2004)

• Conflict driven- “problematic understanding” (Dewey, 1938), a “need for accommodation” (Piaget, 1977) or “puzzlement” (Savery & Duffy, 2001)

From the Internationals…

“True project-based learning does not merely consist of first teaching skills and content and then having a project tacked on at the end to

assess what students have learned.”

…it is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an

authentic, engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge.

Alignment with the Standards

• What is a Standard?

– Name one science standard.

• What is the Curriculum?

– Give one example .

• How are these two different?

• Do you need the curriculum you currently use to reach the standards?

Standards & Problem-based teaching

• Commonalities: – Both content & skill based standards

– Explaining and justifying

– Constructivist

• NYS SLS: Phenomena– Phenomena are used to “engage students in authentic

scientific experiences” and allow them to “figure out core ideas in science”

– Resource: www.ngssphenomena.com; graphic organizer

• Common Core Math: Discrepant Events– Students can ask themselves: does this make sense?

– Uncovering the big ideas themselves

Polyani’s notion of Tacit Knowledge

• Valid knowledge of the problem, an understanding of the scientists’ capacity for pursuing it and a valid anticipation of yet undetermined implications arrived at in the end (Polanyi, 1966)

• We know more than we can tell

• Starting point… (Know About vs. Know Of)

• Indwelling and TIME!

What is Inquiry?• In its simplest form = QUESTION? – defined as

the act of asking about…

• Represents the process of seeking answers to those questions.

• Is a buzzword in education (like hands-on, authentic, etc…)

• How would we define inquiry based education? Is that what the practice looks like?

Most Current Classroom Inquiry

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INQUIRYContext

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Authentic

Problem Inquiry

Content

new

Giving thinking a public space

• Seems to be a fundamental underpinning that knowledge put out for public scrutiny is vitally important

• Allows for knowledge to be critically examined and communicated to others

• Too often it is a dialog between teachers and students with no benefit to others

• Without dirt (or some other matrix) even the strongest seed won’t grow - even seeds of thought…

Example PBLs

• Pigweed & pesticides

• Genetically modified fish

• PCBs in the Hudson River