Welcome to Problem Based Learning Summer School

1. Welcome to Problem Based Learning Summer School

2. Meet the Teachers: Mrs. Harrell – Lead Teacher Mrs. Murphy – Librarian Mr. Attleson Mrs. Carroll Mrs. Schappell

3. Our Rules and Guidelines:

5. We are all a TEAM Together Everyone Achieves More We will be doing many activities to help build team spirit and develop skills to work together.

6. What is Problem Based Learning A way of looking at a problem, solving it using various methods… First you need to Understand the Problem – what are you being asked to find/solve? Show what you know – Record the important facts that you know about the problem such as vocabulary, previous knowledge, important and “nice-to know” information. Make a plan and decide on a strategy - Create a flowchart/timeline for the project. Record questions that need to be answered and a timeline for when answers are due. Realize that you will probably need expert advice and make a list of people you may need to contact for more information. Solve – Use technology to present your solution. Justify your solution – is it reasonable?

7. How do people Solve Problems? Sponge – soak up all the information you can discover Shake – Shake out the facts and question the problem to start to imagine all sorts of things Squeeze – wring out the sponge and scribble down the most promising splashes and driblets Bounce – work with your team to toss around suggestions and ideas to solve the problem Scratch – use your brain to come up with new ideas Once again – please – go over what you know and look at what you have discovered Dry – quit thinking about the problem and look at something else Yahoo – you connect things and ideas pop into your head. You may find the solution to your problem. Do – use your talents to create your answer Itch – drive to solve the problem creatively

8. Our Problem: Show Video

9. Rita Watts 123 Molly Lane City of Jersey Village, Texas June 6, 2010 The Honorable John Culberson 1514 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510-4307 Dear Senator Culberson, My name is Rita Watts. I was a long time resident of the City of Jersey Village, a community you represent right outside of Houston, Texas. I moved to Jersey Village in November of 1954. Back then, only five miles of street had running water and lights. Over the years, I watched my town grow into a close community. My children have grown up here. My neighbors have become my best friends. I am writing to you with a heavy heart. Recently, I received a letter from Harris County informing me that my home will be bought from me. The letter says that my neighborhood will be turned into a floodplain. My home, the same one I have lived in for 55 years, will be knocked down in a few months. White Oak Bayou has a history of flooding. I realize this. I remember the flood of August 1981; it was the year my youngest son Cole was born. I remember the flood of June 1989; I had to cancel a family gathering because of it. I remember the flood of September 1998, it was the day I brought Cole to UT for his first year of college. I know the history. . .but it doesn’t make me feel any better about losing my home. I am writing to you asking for help. What can be done so that this doesn’t have to happen to any other family? I appreciate any help you can provide. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Rita Watts

10. Restate the Problem: Rapid Changes: If you’ve been following the news, geological events that have been constantly in the news are tropical storm “Agatha”, Sink hole in Guatemala, the earthquake in China, Chili and Haiti caused extensive damage and destruction of landforms. The volcano from Iceland cause severe disruption in air travel and economically effected people. Sink Hole – Guatemala Volcano – Iceland Earthquake – Chili, China What else can cause landforms/environments to change? Slow Changes: Changes in coastlines over time have also been hot news topic in recent days. Now that we are in hurricane season we tend to focus on the affects of wetlands loss on residents, flooding and effects, etc. In the weeks to follow how can you use what you’ve learn to educate your friends, family and community members in making future decisions.

11. Know Need to Know Resources: Technologies:

12. Note Taking – Hearing something once is not enough to really learn it, and that is why note taking is so important. Clearly written, accurate notes help to capture information for later study and review. Taking notes also helps you to focus and learn during class time. Do not try to write down everything the teacher says, but do try to record as many facts and ideas as you can. Mark important facts or main ideas with an asterisk or star or underline them. Write clearly, and leave lots of blank space in the left margin or between ideas in case you need to add information later. We will use notes as a way of remembering what we need to share back with our homeroom groups. Pictures, graphs, use anything to help you remember what you need to share.

13. Break Into Homeroom Groups Pick a name for the group – based on Landforms Make a student name tag – assign a number 1,2 or 3 Yarn game to meet your homeroom group Journals – decorate the front cover – NAME, HOMEROOM GROUP, # Assigned Do a first entry of the journal on what Summer School has been like so far.

14. 11:15 – Back in Whole Group WEIRD Time Stands for We enjoy independent reading daily. Expectations: read for 25 minutes daily. Today – select a book

15. We Enjoy Independent Reading Daily

16. Break: Every day we will have a 25 minute break: Here’s what you can do on the break most days: use a mac (go and visit “FUN” sites) use an iTouch (Explore the apps) have some free time outside read a book have a snack - you will need to bring your own water bottle healthy snack