Project-Based Learning

1. Project-Based Learning A Framework for Student Success!

2. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS • What is Project-Based Learning? • How is PBL different from traditional approaches to teaching and learning? • Why is PBL appropriate for the intervention classroom? • How are PBL units designed? • How does research support PBL?

3. Learning Targets • I can explain what Project-Based Learning is and how it works for motivating struggling students. • I can plan units around driving questions and projects that are important to students.

4. Developing questions about complex, intriguing, and sometimes mysterious experiences or phenomena seems to be a very natural occurrence. When people encounter strange happenings or difficult concepts and ideas, they naturally formulate questions such as, “What’s going on? Why is this happening? What does this mean? What will happen in the future?” If they decide to answer these questions, they embark on a journey of thought that may take a few minutes, hours, or years.

5. Flashback! • Do you have any experience with Project-Based Learning? Think about the quote we just discussed. Quick-write! • In your Reflection Journal, brainstorm and record your thoughts and ideas related to this question: What is Project-Based Learning?

6. Project-Based Learning: A Definition A systematic teaching method that engages students in learning essential knowledge and life-enhancing skills through an extended, student-influenced inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and tasks. --Project Based Learning Online – Buck Institute

7. Let’s See it in Action! • As you view this clip, what is the teacher’s role and what is the student’s role in each segment? • Think-Write-Pair-Share

8. The Teacher’s Role • Serve as facilitator • Model thinking and problem-solving strategies effectively • Structure meaningful tasks • Work with students to frame worthwhile questions • Manage the structure of multiple day-to-day activities to produce high quality outcomes • Teach students to set goals

9. The Student’s Role • Set goals • Explore and ask questions • Work well with peers • Stay accountable to self, peers, and teacher for project outcomes

10. Word Sort

11. Mind Mapping Guiding Questions: • What is PBL? • Why use PBL in an intervention classroom?

12. Re-sort

13. Research says thatProject-Based Learning … • Increases student motivation and engagement in learning • Is more effective that traditional instruction in increasing academic achievement • Improves student retention of knowledge over time • Improves mastery of 21st century skills • Is especially effective with lower-achieving students Buck Institute

14. A “Must Have” Resource

15. Designing a Project Buck Institute

16. Six A’s of Project Based Learning From Buck Institute Web site http://www.bie.org

17. Unit Planning Template (UPT)

18. In my life, what is success, and how do I get it? professional Students will conduct extensive research and self-evaluation in defining success and goal-setting and processes for the future. success, adversity interview, trait survey, overcome inventory perseverance resilience perspective “arena of life” evaluate extensive research Media/mulit-media Justify characteristics Identify and examine role models Define Success Examples Success: setting and achieving my goals for life Non-Examples personal 1.What is success? 2.What goals do I have for this school year? High school? Life? 3.What will I need to do/ change to achieve my goals? 4.What skills do I need to develop? Outlining the process Needed skills and abilities Personal traits Self assessment What I know Steps What Can I Do Students will create a report on the qualities or traits successful people have to be posted on school website X X Student will create ppt to be shared with class that includes 1)def. of success; 2) role models; 3) goals; 4)plan of action

19. Project-Based Learning Resources • http://www.pbl-online.org/mod1/movies/msatmovie.htm • http://pbl-online.org/ • http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning • http://www.bie.org/

20. Final Thought End With a BANG, Not a Whimper! The last day of a project should not be, “OK, turn in your papers and here’s the test. Our next unit begins Monday.” When you begin developing ideas for projects, envision your students presenting their work to an involved audience. The project should end with a sense of pride, excitement, and celebration. PBL Starter Kit p. 30

21. REFLECTIVE JOURNAL Imagine life as problem-free. Wouldn’t that be wonderful! Or, would it? In any case, life does not come problem-free because that is the nature of life here on earth, full of challenging opportunities to learn, grow, reflect, and enjoy. This may be the most obvious reason why project-based learning is important for us to consider – PBL engages students in life as we know it, full of fascinating, problematic situations worth thinking about, investigating, and resolving. --from Problem-Based Learning by John Barell (2007) • I can explain what Project-Based Learning is and how it works for motivating struggling students. • I can plan units around driving questions and projects that are important to students.

22. Bibliography Beer, Donald R., Marcia Invernizzi, Shane Templeton, Francine Johnston. Words Their Way. Prentice Hall: 2008. Buck Institute for Education. Project-Based Learning for the 21st Century. http://www.bie.org/ --PBL Starter Kit. BIE 2009. Barell, John. Problem-Based Learning: An Inquiry Approach. Corwin Press: Thousand Oaks 2007.