Project-Based Learning

Learning

In

Action!

Copyright © 2003 The George Lucas Educational Foundation

“The biggest obstacle

to school change

is our memories.”

-- Dr. Allen Glenn

Obstacles

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.

Excerpts from Edutopia

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.

How Does Project-Based Learning Work?

Question

Plan

Schedule

Monitor

Assess

Evaluate

Question

Start 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.

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?

Read “More Fun Than a Barrel of ... Worms?!”

Read “Geometry in the Real World: Students as Architects”

Read “March of the Monarchs”

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?

Activities

References

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