This document summarizes a presentation on project-based learning. It notes that traditional classroom projects are often not relevant to students, non-collaborative, and graded based on teacher perceptions. Project-based learning, alternatively, requires collaboration, follows a driving question, provides student choice, and has a public audience. The document outlines key elements of high-quality project-based learning, including having significant content, requiring in-depth inquiry, and allowing for student voice and choice. It provides examples of student projects, such as inventing machines out of Legos and creating inventions in Minecraft.

1. Leigh Zeitz
University of Northern Iowa
2015 Statewide Teaching and Learning Conference

2. nationalacademies

3.  STEM employees earn 25% more than non-STEM
 STEM-Related jobs grow 17% over next decade
 2010 unemployed: STEM workers 5.3 % vs 10%
 Minorities (Women, AfricanAmerican, Latinos)
compose 70% of workforce but only 20% STEM
 >50% of students beginning with STEM degree
switch to Non-STEM degrees in first 2 years
Stemadvantage.org

4. nationalacademies

5. nationalacademies

6. nationalacademies

7. DOING PROJECTS
 Not relevant to students
 Based on Driving Question
 Doesn’t resemble RealWorld
 Non-collaborative
 Not many choices
 Graded by teacher perceptions
 Turned into the teacher
PROJECT BASED LEARNING
 Requires collaboration
 Follows teacher’s instructions
 Could provide real solutions
 Requires team collaboration
 Make most of the choices
 Based on rubric
 Public audience
Teachthought.com

8.  Significant Content
 A Need to Know
 A Driving Question
 In-Depth Inquiry
 StudentVoice and Choice
 21st Century Competencies
 Critique and Revision
 PublicAudience
Buck Institute for Education

9. Inventions of
Professor Lucifer Gorgonzola Butts
1914- 1964

11. Artwork Copyright © andTM Goldberg Inc.
All Rights Reserved. RUBE GOLDBERG ® is a
registeredTrademark of the Rube Goldberg Inc.
All materials used with permission.
Rubegoldberg.com

18. How do I get the Marble
in the Bucket?

19.  Students Brainstorm 10 ways to get the ball
in the bucket
 Show photo of students brainstorming
 Show list of ideas they created

20.  Students Brainstorm 10 ways to get the ball
in the bucket
 Show photo of students brainstorming
 Show list of ideas they created

21. Kinesthetic Learners

25. InventTomorrow links
Rube Ideas videos

26.  Identify
machines/ideas
 Videos
 Experience
 Imagination

29. How It Works
Watch It Work

36. 1. Identify the SimpleTask.
2. List the parts of the simple
task.
3. Discuss how the parts work
together
4. Diagram an invention with
1. At least 15 ideas.
2. Uses at least 3 forms of
energy.
5. Set up a plan for how it
would be built.

45. Develop a Problem-
Based Learning mindset
 Initiate an essential
question.
 Provide some process
structure.
 Identify deliverables but
don’t strictly define the
contents.

46. • Language
• Concepts
• Process

47. • Science
• Tech
• Writing

49.  Science
 PS 2-1 Designs a solution to a problem involving
Newton’s 3rd Law
 PS 2-2 Designs an experiment to show effects of
Newton’s 2nd law
 Technology
 21.6-8.TL.1 Demonstrate creative thinking in the
design and development of innovative tech products
and problem solving
 21.6-8.TL.4 Use critical thinking to conduct research,
solve problems, and make informed decisions using
appropriate tech tools and resources.

51. Journaling the Process
 Reflecting on what they
created.
 Sharing own feeling.
 Commenting on others’
reflections.

54. Inventing is like
writing a book.You get
to have fun imagining
new things, and when
you’re done you feel like
you accomplished
something.That why I
think inventing is cool
beans. - Griffin

55. We’re starting a new project, and I think we
have some pretty good ideas!We’re creating a
Lego robot to transport a chip into a bowl of
salsa.The only thing is, we have to get the chip
back out, so that’s a challenge.
I think it’s awesome that we get to use our
creativity so much, and create machines that
you have fun thinking of. Also, getting to see
the other group inventions is pretty cool too.

56.  Invented in MineCraft
 Video recorded the inventions
 Shared with class
 Invented At Home
 Video recorded the inventions
 Shared them with class

57. Shooting a Basket
Setting off Fireworks

58. Turn a book page
Shoot a Felt Marker