Stem Ecosystems Fall Convening, 2019, Cleveland, OH. A session to cultivate Project Based Learning (PBL) programs using a garden grow metaphor handout. Effective tips and tricks shared by active “gardeners” working in the field of PBL. Five presenters share successful STEM-focused PBL growth techniques, each highlighting essential seeds of success from their regions, tips for supporting growth and development, and pest management techniques. Attendees leave prepared with an action plan handout that features stakeholder identification, soft skills integration, strategic partners, resources, challenges, and outcomes. Leads all students along the PBL garden path to engagement, deep learning, and career aspirations.

1. How does your PBL
garden grow?

2. Master Gardeners
Lisa
Blank
North Country
STEM
Learning
Network
Mary Margaret
Small
North Country
STEM Learning
Network
Beth
Demke
North
Dakota
STEM
Ecosystem
Elizabeth
Rodriguez
Camden
County
College
Pavi
Lakshminarayan
South Jersey
STEM &
Innovation
Partnership
Steve
Sue
Hawai’i Loa
Ecosystem

3. What is PBL?
Project Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching method in
which students learn by actively engaging in
real-world and personally meaningful projects.

4. Your Garden Planner
1. Stakeholders & Partners
2. Content & Soft Skills [STEMSS
]
3. Showcase Themes
4. Pests (challenges)
5. Results

5. Music Hack
Creating an Anthem for a World-wide Voyage
Steve Sue, Hawai’i Loa Ecosystem

6. Stakeholders & Partners
HI DoE
STEM
Works Bizgenics
Hokulea
H. Kapono
MM Sound

7. Content & Soft Skills [STEMSS
]
Music
Composition
Music
Notation
Sound
Engineering
Leadership
Collaboration
Crit-Thinking
Empathy
Emotional
Intelligence
Creativity
Comm. Arts

8. Showcase
1. Big Idea
(Concept)
2. Invention
(Composition)
3. Story
(Song Title)
4. Users
(Listeners)
5. Goals
(Lei of Song)

9. Challenges
IP/Liability
Studio Time
Distribution

10. Results
Come Kanikapila!
(Jam Session)
New Anthem, Album,
STEMss
Kids
Goodwill &
Cultural X, Leaders
Hokulea Song 1:25 Fishes Song 2:28

11. Q & A

12. Meet the Sharks!
Solid Edge Design Challenge
Elizabeth Rodriguez, Camden County College
21st Century STEM Scholars - CCLCC _ SJSIP

13. Stakeholders & Partners
Siemens
Camden County
College Yogi Berra Museum
ESPN
Sports
AMA
OHS & PHS

14. CAD
Market
Research
Product
Design
Design
Engineering
Leadership
Collaboration
Critical-
Thinking
Public
Speaking
Creativity
Content & Soft Skills [STEMSS
]
Emotional
Intelligence
Entrepre-
neurship

15. Showcase
1. Big Idea
(Concept)
2. Invention
(Design/Redesign
Sports gears)
3. Story
(Product)
4. Users
(Public)
5. Goals
(Product Idea
to Launch)

16. Challenges
Learning CAD
Schedule
Varying Skill Levels
Maintaining Engagement

17. Results
Great product ideas Broader Recognition Enhance interest in STEM
Careers & Education

18. Results
text text text
Hyperlinked Project folder | text
Q & A

19. PreK Playground Project
Playground creation for Watertown’s PreK students
Mary Margaret Small, North Country STEM Learning Network

22. Stakeholders & Partners
BOCES CTE Class
(Intermediate
Unit)
Buildings &
Grounds
Dept.
STEM Instructional
Specialist
NC Ecosystem
Day Automation
BCA
Architects
Local
Media
PreK
Program

23. Stakeholders & Partners

24. Stakeholders & Partners
text
text
textLOCAL MEDIA
text

25. Content & Soft Skills [STEMSS
]
Perseverance
Collaboration
Critical Thinking
Presentation
Skills
Teamwork
Math
Geometry, budgeting
Child
development
Basic CAD
3D design &
printing
Graphic design
Research skills
Expository writing
Leadership
Risk-taking
Creativity

26. Showcase
1. Big Idea
(Playground
Design)
2. Invention
(Use of nature)
3. Users
(PreK)
4. Goals
(Design within
budget
constraints,
codes, laws,
etc.)

27. Challenges
learning curve
scheduling
professionalism
buy-in
perceptions

28. Results
Public
Presentations
Community
ConnectionsPlayground Project folder
Playground
Designs

29. Results
text text text
Hyperlinked Project folder | text
Q & A

30. Wrap-UpPlan Your PBL
Garden

31. Wrap-UpShare Your Plan
Take a pic & post at #PBLgarden

32. Wrap-UpThanks for Coming!
Plan Pics at: bizgenics.org/blog