1 of 27

Planning Problems

PLTW Spring Conference • Mass Learning Project

​

David Czechowski

TeachingIsSTEM.com/Workshops

2 of 27

Goals For You…

  • To be able to redirect impractical project ideas into related alternatives.
  • To articulate realistic daily student project milestones.

3 of 27

David's Secret Dream

In 2 months, I would love to see photos of your student's development plans.

davidczechowski@hpcsd.org

4 of 27

Agenda

  • Problems with Problems
  • Student (bad) Ideas
  • Teacher Redirects
  • Planning Student Goals
  • Success?

5 of 27

Problems with Problems…

6 of 27

PLTW APBs: Open-Ended

CSE Problem 3.3.1: "Create a program that would be useful to you in another class."

CSP Problem 3.3.1: "Extract information from data using a program."

CSA Problem 4.3.1: "You will design and develop a program of your choosing, bringing together all the skills you have learned throughout the course."

Activities -> Projects -> Problems

7 of 27

PLTW APBs: Limited Practice and Guidance

~30 Activities and only 4 Problems

Activities -> Projects -> Problems

8 of 27

PLTW APBs: Open-Ended-Problem Realities…

9 of 27

Student Ideas

10 of 27

Student Ideas: Pick a Student

Pairs

6 minutes:

  1. Pick a Student Bio
  2. What are 3 open-ended project ideas that this student might request to do? (2 nightmare-ish and 1 happy)

Share-out:

  • Who? What project ideas? Why those ideas?

11 of 27

Student Ideas: Types of Problems

  • "IDK"
  • "AI"
  • "Twitter Bot"
  • "Cure Cancer"
  • "Clicker Game"
  • "Clash of the Clans 3"
  • "Time Travel"

12 of 27

Student Ideas: Types of Problems

  • "IDK"
  • "AI"
  • "Twitter Bot"
  • "Cure Cancer"
  • "Clicker Game"
  • "Clash of the Clans 3"
  • "Time Travel"
  • Disengagement
  • Too broad
  • Hacker/Macho
  • Too ambitious
  • Video Game (Purposeless)
  • Copying Something
  • Not Legitimate

13 of 27

Teacher Moves

14 of 27

Teacher Moves: Ways to Redirect

Disengagement

Too broad

Hacker/Macho

Too ambitious

Purposeless

Copying Something

Not Legitimate

  • Pull in something they do like (Friend, Relative, Sport, Hobby)
  • Choose one aspect�
  • Flip the script to defense, allow 'easter eggs'�
  • Drill into the real wow factor�
  • Design a related app, or give the game a purpose�
  • Customize it, or help fans�
  • Computing Innovations have code, focus on the code

15 of 27

Teacher Moves: Student Ownership

Keep the Project Theirs…

  • Leave room for this to be the first step toward a pipedream
  • Keep the student's voice in their project.
  • Rooted the idea in their personal motivation.

16 of 27

Teacher Moves: Student Redirect

5 minutes:

  • Redirect your wayward student.
  • Try to suggest alternatives for the impractical ideas.
  • Choose 1 to further develop in the next step.

17 of 27

Planning

18 of 27

Planning: Teacher Expertise

Be the "General Contractor"

Set a priority list, not a timeline.

Decompose down to <20 minutes of work.

No project work begins until the plan is agreed to.

Leave pipedreams on the list (step 6+).

19 of 27

Planning: SMART Goals

SMART Goals

  • Specific – You & the student both understand what the expectation is (sketch?)
  • Measurable – Each achievement should be demonstrable
  • Achievable – You know the skill level of the individuals
  • Relevant – Everything should progress toward the dream goal
  • Time-bound – Doable within one class period (or less)

20 of 27

Planning: Agile's "User Stories"

User wants to ____ so that ______________.

  • Write the goals as evidence-based.
  • Keep the purpose in focus.

21 of 27

Planning: Break-It-Down

10 minutes:

  • Choose one of the student's ideas.
  • Write 4+ realistic progressive milestones.

Student plans…

  • Do not need to be the complete project.
  • Are easier to change when digital.

5 minutes:

  • Table Share-out: Original Idea, Revised Goal, Plan

22 of 27

Success

23 of 27

Success: What Does It Look Like?

"I don't have time to not spend time planning."

  • Don't expect the world
  • Project Management is a skill, don't neglect this learning experience
  • "Problem" grading should be on the process NOT just the finished product
  • "Aspirations"

24 of 27

Wrapping Up…

25 of 27

Goals For You…

  • To be able to redirect impractical project ideas into related alternatives.
  • To articulate realistic daily student project milestones.

26 of 27

More Info at Closing!

​

​

27 of 27

27

​

Lunch

​

​

​

​

​

  • 3 identical buffet lines
  • Drinks in coolers near stage
  • Silverware on tables