This document discusses reinventing project-based learning and designing real-world projects for digital-age learners. It notes that professional learning for educators is changing and now emphasizes just-in-time, personalized learning through various emerging online channels. It outlines criteria for determining what content is worth teaching, including utility, social responsibility, intrinsic knowledge value, and childhood enrichment. The document provides steps for outlining projects that incorporate important concepts and engage students in analysis, evaluation and creation through authentic real-world contexts.

1. Reinventing Project Based Learning Designing and implementing real-world projects for digital-age learners July 15, 2008 1. Professional Learning Is Changing 2. “Big Ideas” Matter - Project Outline

5. Collaborating Teachers Julie Lindsay,Qatar Vicki Davis, Georgia

6. Collaborating Teachers Eugene, OR USA St. Jean Sur Richeleau, Quebec CA http://teacher102.edublogs.org

10. Outlining Content Worth Teaching 1. What important and enduring concepts are fundamental to each subject you teach? 2. Why do these concepts matter? Why are they important? 3. Outside of school, who cares about these topics? 4. Select one or two of the most promising of these topics and think about real-to-life contexts 5. As you begin to imagine working with these topics, how might you push past rote learning into analysis, evaluation and creation? Incorporate Bloom’s “rigor” verbs in your answer. 6. Imagine authentic ways students might engage in this topics within a project and the ways 21st century skills might be addressed. 7. What aspects of these topics will interest your students? 8. What learning dispositions should you cultivate and ask your students to pay attention to?