+ Learning In Action! Copyright © 2003 The George Lucas Educational Foundation.

+

Learning In Action!

Copyright © 2003 The George Lucas Educational Foundation

+Obstacles

“The biggest obstacle

to school change

is our memories.”

-- Dr. Allen Glenn

+Excerpts from Edutopia

Creating schools for the 21st Century requires less time looking in the rearview mirror and more vision anticipating the road ahead.

Teaching has been an activity undertaken behind closed doors between moderately consenting participants.

Technology enables students, teachers, and administrators to reach out beyond the school building.

Innovative classrooms are not defined by fixed places but by their spirit of curiosity and collaboration among students, teachers, and others in a true learning community.

+Change

“We must be

the change

we want to see

in the world.”

-- Mahatma Gandhi

Project-Based Learning (PBL)

+What is Project-Based Learning?

PBL is curriculum fueled and standards based.

PBL asks a question or poses a problem that ALL students can answer. Concrete, hands-on experiences come together during project-based learning.

PBL allows students to investigate issues and topics in real-world problems.

PBL fosters abstract, intellectual tasks to explore complex issues.

+KNOW YOUR NEEDS

Gather information from ASK tests and any other tests you have been using to track their skills.

KNOW the needs of your students.

Apply PBL.

+ How Does Project-Based Learning Work?

Question

Plan

Schedule

Monitor

Assess

Evaluate

+

What Does PBL Look Like?

+

+

+

+Questio

nStart with the Essential question.

Take a real-world topic and begin an in-depth investigation.

Make sure it is relevant for your students.

+Plan

Plan which content standards will be addressed while answering the question.

Involve students in the questioning, planning, and project-building process.

Teacher and students brainstorm activities that support the inquiry.

+Schedule

Teacher AND students design a timeline for project components.

Set benchmarks.

Keep it simple and age-appropriate.

+Monitor

Facilitate the process.

Mentor the process.

Utilize rubrics.

+Assess

Make the assessment authentic.

Know authentic assessment will require more time and effort from the teacher.

Vary the type of assessment used.

“ They enjoyed the opportunities to evaluate each other by following rubrics based on guidelines they helped develop.”

+Evaluate

Take time to reflect, individually and as a group.

Share feelings and experiences.

Discuss what worked well.

Discuss what needs change.

Share ideas that will lead to new inquiries, thus new projects.

+Let’s Begin

Think BIG!

The Question

is the Answer!

What is the Question?

+Activities

BIE SITE

Discuss which of the projects you just read about ‘grabbed’ your attention. Why?

What ideas do you have for a project? What question will you ask your students?

+ Activities

Record your ideas.

Record questions that will launch project-based learning.

Choose one of your questions. Brainstorm with your colleagues. Create a concept map.

What content standards will be addressed? What subjects can be woven into the process?

+The difference!

APPLES or APPLES?

+Eight Features of Project-Based Learning

1) MEANING

+Eight Features of Project-Based Learning

2)INQUIRY

+Eight Features of Project-Based Learning

3) CONTENT

+Eight Features of Project-Based Learning

4) COMMUNITY

+Eight Features of Project-Based Learning

5) AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE

+Eight Features of Project-Based Learning

6)ACCOMPLISHMENTS

+Eight Features of Project-Based Learning

7) REFLECTION

+Eight Features of Project-Based Learning

8) PRODUCT

+Eight Features of Project-Based Learning

From: “Project-Based Learning: A strategy for Teaching and Learning”

Center for Youth Development and Education - Boston

+ Conventional Project-Based

Teacher-centered Student-centered

Teacher-directed Self-directed

Listen, memorize, repeat Discover, apply, present

Independence Collaboration

Teacher decision making Students and teacher decision making

Knowledge of facts, terms, content

21st Century Skills

Direct instruction Varied instructional strategies

Short, isolated lessons with predetermined answers

Long-term investigations

Standards-based Standards-based

Assessment tests Ongoing Assessment

School-based activities Real-world connections

Quizzes and tests Reflection

+

+Applying Appropriate Technology

Let the students be YOUR guide.

They learn by DOING, EXPLORING, and PLAYING.

+WHAT ABOUT CONTROL?

PBL is HERE

Plan ahead

Be flexible, problems will crop up that we cannot anticipate- we have to turn them into teachable moments.

+Web 2.0 tools

+Needs

Look to your scores…

What are your needs?

What PBL will address those needs?

What tech tools support PBL AND those needs?

+Accountability

Core standards met?

Projects completed?

+10 Takeaway Tips for Project-Based Learning

1. Begin with the End in Mind

2. Make a Tough Topic Fun

3. Focus on Standards -- But Not Too Many

4. Start Small When You're New

+10 Takeaway Tips for Project-Based Learning cont…5. Test-Drive the Final Product

Before Starting the Project

6. Start Your Project with an "Entry Event”

7. Keep Students in the Loop

8. Set Clear Deadlines -- But Allow for Some Flexibility

+10 Takeaway Tips for Project-Based Learning cont…9. Create a Balanced Assessment Plan

10. Conclude Projects with a

Bang!

+ReferencesEdutopia: Success Stories for Learning in the Di

gital AgeThe George Lucas Educational FoundationJossey-Bass, Copyright © 2002

The George Lucas Educational Foundation Web sitewww.edutopia.org

Why We Assess Students - And HowMcLean, James E. and Lockwood, Robert E.Corwin Press, Inc.

Learning By HeartBarth, Roland S.Jossey-Bass, Copyright © 2001