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An Introduction To Project Based Learning

Presented by:

Michelle Black & Martha Rogers

Walled Lake Schools

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Learn the key components of PBL and how to implement PBL in your elementary classroom. See the power of authentic tasks centered on a driving question to captivate students and make them active participants in their learning process.

Learning Outcomes:

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“Project Based Learning is a systematic teaching method that engages students in learning important knowledge and 21st century skills through an extended, student-influenced inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and learning tasks.”

What is PBL?

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The 21st Century Learner

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Information is everywhere! We need to help students become thinkers

of information.

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The Ideal Grad

What are the skills and dispositions you would like to see graduates have?

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*Emphasizes real world problems

*Boosts STEM learning

-New science standards

*Builds a sense of community

*Increases engagement

*Is dynamicment

*Is dynamic

Project Based Learning...

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*Involves developing…

Relationships

* Is Rigorous

* Is Relevant

PBL is a teaching method...

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*Activities tied together

*Theme, concept, time period, etc.

PBL is NOT...

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*Learning experiences and tasks

* Guides students in inquiry

*Answering a central question, problem, or meeting a challenge

PBL IS...

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*”Making something”

* “Hands-on learning”

* “Doing an activity”

PBL is NOT...

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*work that involves intellectually challenging tasks

* Products focused on research, reading, writing, discussion, and oral presentation

PBL IS...

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PBL is not the dessert.

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PBL is the main course.

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Rather than giving students the answers. Students are given a problem in which they discover the answers.

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Kindergarten PBL Unit:

Nonfiction Reading and Writing

Driving Question:

How can we, as scientists, teach others about polar bears?

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Entry Event

What is a Scientist?

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Need to Knows

Visiting Expert

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Technology

Inquiry

Technology

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Technology

Collaboration

Research

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First Grade Insect Standards:

Name the body parts of an insect
Describe similarities and differences among insects
Describe the insect’s life cycle
Describe what insects need to survive in its habitat

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1st Grade PBL Unit: Insects

Driving Question: How can we, as entomologists, determine if an insect is helpful or harmful?

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Wonderings

Entry Event

Need To Knows

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Technology

Collaboration

In-Depth Inquiry

Research

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Team Projects

Visiting Expert

Presentation

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First Grade Insect Standards:

Name the body parts of an insect
Describe similarities and differences among insects
Describe the insect’s life cycle
Describe what insects need to survive in its habitat

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Gold Standard PBL

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A Six Word Story

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Key Success Skills

Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving

Collaboration

Self-Management

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Challenging Problem or Question

The “thesis” of the project

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Sustained Inquiry

A project requires students to engage in inquiry.

By “inquiry” we don’t just mean researching something.

Inquiry is a process and way of thinking that involves asking questions, digging for answers, asking new questions, and finding supporting evidence for your conclusions.

We often think of inquiry in terms of science experiments or investigations, or research papers in a history class.

But any project can be thought of as inquiry.

For example, creating a mural requires inquiry: What’s the best location? What materials should we use? What are the most appropriate images?

Or, designing a website: What does the client need? Who do we want to visit the site? How can we make it work well for those visitors?

A project also requires innovation: Students create something new in PBL. They aren’t just reproducing an answer to a question or solution to a problem that’s been provided by the teacher. They’re not building something from a kit. They’re not just following directions to re-create a product someone else designed.

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Authenticity

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Student Voice and Choice

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Reflection

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Critique and Revision

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Public Product

There are several reasons why a project should include a presentation to some sort of audience.

It requires students to think of their audience: who are we creating products for, who are we speaking to, and what does this audience need?

It gives students the chance to demonstrate that they have built skills and gained knowledge, and are offering up their work as proof.

It culminates the project with a bang. A big project should have a big finish after all the work.

It motivates students to do high-quality work if they know they have to stand in front of an audience.

It allows for assessment of 21st century skills such as communication and use of media.

It shows the world -- other students, parents, administrators, business and community members -- what your students can do (and how they can dress up!). It impresses people and includes them in a celebration of work well done.

A presentation might be a formal oral presentation, or it could be a showing of student work, or a performance like a debate, a speech, a play, or a piece of music.

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Where do I start?

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PBL Examples

http://www.novipbl.net/

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* Buck Institute for Education: bie.org

* Article: What The Heck is PBL?

* PBL Starter Kit

* Article: Essential Project Design Elements

* Wonderopolis

* Edutopia

* PBL Video from Melrose Elementary

* Getting Started With PBL

Resources

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* The PBL Superhighway...Over 45 Links To Great Project Based Learning

* Project Video: From Worms To Wall Street

* 10 Expectations

* Walled Lake Teachers trying PBL in their classrooms:

Michelle Black: michelleblack@wlcsd.org
Martha Rogers: martharogers@wlcsd.org

Link to Martha’s video project

Resources

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If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.

-John Dewey

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