a presentation on Project Based Learning for GRU EDTD 6364

1. Project
Based
Learning

2. What is Project Based Learning?
 BIE.org defines PBL as “a teaching
method in which students gain
knowledge and skills by working for
an extended period of time to
investigate and respond to a
complex question, problem, or
challenge”.
 Video example 1:32

3. ELEMENTS

4. 1. Significant Content
 PBL focuses on developing useful
knowledge and skill in relation to
standards
 Projects should include literacy standards
for reading, writing, listening and speaking
 Projects focused on academic goals by
applying real life inquiry

5. 2. 21st century competencies
 Focus on building “real-life” skills
 Focus on real world problem solving skills
 Push to develop better critical thinking
skills
 Teaches students how to collaborate with
others in “real world” situations
 Teaches students how to creatively find
solutions in “real life” situations
 Preparation for life after school

6. 3. In depth inquiry
 Student driven research and
understanding
 Encourages students to ask questions
 Students will find knowledge more
meaningful
 NOT finding information on a website and
tacking to a poster
 Inquiry follows trails, finding answers leads
to development of new questions

7. 4. Driving Question
 The initial question to activate the project
 Open-ended, complex, linked to core
curriculum
 Needed to keep projects on track
 Necessary! A project with no driving
question(s) is like an essay with no thesis.

8. 5. Need to know
 Students develop an understanding that they
need to know concepts and skills to ultimately
answer the driving question
 Students develop this understanding through in
depth inquiry
 Should begin with an event that generates interest
and curiosity
 Announcing a project by distributing a packet of
paper will normally turn students away
 How to establish a need to know: lively interest
based discussions, videos, current events.

9. 6. Voice and choice
 THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT!!!
 Makes the project more meaningful to the
students
 Students make decisions on what they will
create, resources they will use and how
they will structure their time
 In the “best case scenario” students will
create their own driving questions

10. 7. Critique and Revision
 Emphasizes creation of high quality products
and performances
 Helps students not feel overwhelmed by
implementing stepping stones for feed back
 Helps students understand that a first attempt
does not normally yield the best result
 Creates an environment where students
approach professionals and their teachers for
guidance along the way.
 Helps students manage complexity and time,
transform data, develop logical arguments for
their claims and generate meaningful
questions

11. 8. Public Audience
 Students present their final project to an
audience including more than their
teacher and fellow classmates
Why? As an intervention for students who
do not take the project seriously.
 Makes the project more meaningful and
ultimately creates better learned skill set.
 Students will create more advanced
presentations when they know they are
presenting to audiences who will produce
many questions

12. PROBLEM Based Learning
 Project based and problem based
learning are normally considered to be
the same.
 Problem based learning is defined as
subject learning through problem solving
where students learn thinking strategies
and curriculum skills.

13. WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?

14. What about Common Core?
 To meet demands of common core teachers need a
framework for designing units. In PBL, the project IS the
unit.
 For students to meet demands of common core
standards, they must be able to BUILD knowledge and
skills. Through PBL, this building of skills is developed
through extensive inquiry.
 Common Core requires teachers to shift from teaching
students to “find the right answer” to teaching students
how to search for meaning. PBL, once again, utilizes this
search through student driven inquiry.
 Through PBL classrooms shift from traditional lecture to
problem solving and student driven education, aligning
with Common Core expectations.

15. Should time be used to allow
students to pursue their
investigations or to cover the state
guided curriculum?
 ANSWER:
 BOTH! There is an expectation of teachers to meet
state guidelines in curriculum, and there is evidence
supporting the idea of acquiring skills through
investigation. The most difficult “idea” surrounding PBL
is finding a way to implement a project that correlates
directly with the guidelines presented in Common
Core Standards. There is also this wonderful invention
called the internet with useful ideas and assistance
right at your fingertips.

16. What about administration?
 It is definitely true that your schools administration
most likely will not be on board with PBL in your
classroom if PBL is not already being implemented
somewhere in your school.
 ADVICE: Create your own project!!!!
 Develop a presentation through research and inquiry,
gather examples, present evidence, ask for a chance.
Nothing is ever accomplished by wishing someone would
change their mind.

17. DOES PBL ACTUALLY WORK?
 Studies done in 1993 over 10 schools
implementing PBL learning: 9 out of 10
showed significant improvement in
standardized test scores.
 In IOWA, many schools went from well below
average to well above distinct average over
a 3 year period of implementing PBL
 Many teachers report “pleasant surprises”
among lower ranking students after
implementing PBL
 Studies show PBL raises math achievements
among ALL students, especially girls.
Student Reflection Video

18. Links for Useful Ideas
 Math
 edtecher.hubpages.com/hub/math-project-ideas-examples
 Guidance for implementing PBL
 Language Arts
 Edtecher.hubpages.com/hub/english-projects-ideas-language-arts-
pbl
 Guidance for implementing PBL
 History
 Edtecher.hubpages.com/hub/social-studies-projects-ideas-for-pbl
 http://plpnetwork.com/2011/06/30/constructing-history-in-our-high-
school-project-based-classroom/
 Science
 Edtecher.hubpages.com/hub/project-based-learning-science-lesson-
plans.pbl
 http://stem.browardschools.com/science/science_general/pbl/

19. Additional Resources
o Project example search engine:
o http://bie.org/project_search
o More information on PBL:
o http://bie.org/about/what_pbl
o http://edglossary.org/project-based-learning/
o http://creativeeducator.tech4learning.com/v09/articles/How_Proj
ect-Based_Learning_Develops_Drive_And_Mastery
o http://w.newtechnetwork.org/sites/default/files/news/pbl_researc
h2.pdf
o http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/bmarks/files/seven
%20essentials%20for%20project-based%20learning.pdf
o Resources for Parents
o http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-parent-resources
o PROBLEM based learning information:
o http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic43.htm
o http://alpha.projectmash.org/groups/problem-based-learning-1
o PBL and Common Core
o http://www.edutopia.org/blog/pbl-role-shift-to-ccss-sara-hallermann