Authentic Learning Activities

• http://pbl-online.org/About/characteristics.htm

Videos

• http://www.edutopia.org/journey-north

• http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning-introduction-video

• http://www.edutopia.org/beginning-journey-five-year-olds-drive-their-own-pbl-projects

• http://pbl-online.org/Map/mapoverview/Movie/FLV1_e_maptheproject_movie.htm

Design Principal #1- Develop a Project Idea

Begin with the end in mind.

http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emoverview/Movie/FLV1_endinmindmovie.htm

Develop Project Ideas and Themes

1) Work backwards from a topic.

2) Use your standards.

3) Find projects and ideas on the Web.

4) Map your community.

5) Match what people do in their daily work.

6) Tie projects to local and national events.

7) Focus on community service. http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emexplore/emexplore1.html

Decide the Scope of the Project

1) Length

2) Information/data collection

3) Adult connections

4) Issues

5) Large and small projects http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emexplore/charts/projectscope.htm

Select Standards

• Which standards?

• How many standards?

• What about assessment?

• Literacy as a core standard

• Listen to an expert.

http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emexplore/Movie/FLV1_huemermovie.htm

Incorporate Simultaneous Outcomes

1) Skills

Communication, Collaboration, Technology, Problem-solving and Critical Thinking, Design, Task and Self Management

Task and Time Management

• http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emexplore/Movie/FLV1_taskmanagementmovie.htm

Communication

• http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emexplore/Movie/FLV1_communicationmovie.htm

• Speaking

• Presenting

• Writing

• Translating

• Note Taking

• Publishing

Collaboration

• http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emexplore/Movie/FLV1_groupprocessmovie.htm

• Delegating and assigning roles

• Teamwork

• Listening

• Conflict Resolution

• Communication

Technology

• http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emexplore/Movie/FLV1_technologymovie.htm

• Technical literacy

• Using the Internet

• Word processing

• Using other software applications

• Using technology

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

• http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emexplore/Movie/FLV1_problemsolvingmovie.htm

• Categorizing and analyzing, extrapolating, applying, or extending explanations, evaluating evidence or claims, evaluating value judgments, elaborating, generating ideas, generating analogies, using problem solving strategies, brainstorming, using search/research strategies, seeking and giving comprehensive explanations, clarifying tasks, organizing, synthesizing, and classifying information

Design

• http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emexplore/Movie/FLV1_designmovie.htm

• Using a design process

• Planning skills and strategies

• Goal setting

• Using criteria or rubrics to guide work

Work from Project Design Criteria

• Meet standards?

• Engage students?

• Focus on essential understanding?

• Encourage higher-level thinking?

• Teach literacy and reinforce basic skills?

• Allow students to succeed?

• Use clear, precise assessment?

• Require a sensible use of technology?

• Address authentic issues?

Distinguish Between Projects and Activity-based Teaching Strategies• http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emexplore/ch

arts/projectvsactivity.htm

Create the Optimal Learning Environment

• Connections http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emexplore/emexplore6movies/FLV1_connectionsmovie.htm

• Authentic Look and Feel

• Seeing the Whole

• Apply Content to Real Problems

• Real Work http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emexplore/emexplore6movies/FLV1_realworldmovie.htm

Activity

http://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/empractice/empractice.html

Planning, management, and execution of a well-designed projecthttp://pbl-online.org/end_in_mind/emtest/emtest.html

Design Principal #2

Craft the Driving Question

Inquiry based learning

Complexity

Coherence

Authenticity

What is a driving question?

• Are provocative

• Are open ended

• Go to the heart of a discipline or topic

• Are challenging

• Can arise from real world dilemmas that students find interesting

• Are consistent with curricular standards and frameworks

Generate the Driving Question

http://pbl-online.org/driving_question/dqexplore/dqexplore2.html

Refine the Driving Question

http://pbl-online.org/driving_question/dqexplore/dqexplore3.html

Use Standards to Develop a Driving Question

http://pbl-online.org/driving_question/dqexplore/dqexplore4.html

A Good Driving Question Should:

1) Drive the project

2) Capture a project theme or a “big idea”

3) Point standards toward mastery content and skills that enable them to answer the question

4) Not be easily solved or answered.

Recognize Good Driving Questions

http://pbl-online.org/driving_question/dqPractice/dqpractice1A.html

Writing a Good Driving Question

http://pbl-online.org/driving_question/dqtest/dqtest.html

Design Principal #3

Plan the Assessment

http://pbl-online.org/PlanTheAssessment/Overview/movies/FLV1_eoverviewmovie.htm

http://pbl-online.org/PlanTheAssessment/explore/planexploremovies/FLV1_performancemovie.htm

Questions to Ask:

• How well do the students know the content of the topic of the project?

• How well have they mastered the key skills learned in the project?

• How well did they apply their knowledge and skills as they prepared their project?

Three Steps to Planning Effective Assessments

1) Align the products or performances for the project with the outcomes.

2) Know what to assess – establish criteria to assess each product and performance.

3) Create rubrics for the project.

Balanced Assessment Plan

Question 1 – How well do the students know the content of the topic of the project?

Question 2 – How well have they mastered the key skills learned in the project?

Question 3 – How well did they apply their knowledge and skills as they prepared their products?

Design Principle #4

Map the Project

http://pbl-online.org/Map/mapoverview/Movie/FLV1_map.htm

Key Steps in Successful Project Planning

1) Organize Tasks and Activities

2) Decide How to Launch the Project

3) Gather Resources

4) Draw a “Storyboard”

Organize Tasks and Activities

1) How do a scaffold learning?

2) How can I plan for knowledge and skills?

3) What are some activities I might use?

4) How do I break down activities into manageable tasks?

Launch the Project

• Entry document

http://pbl-online.org/Map/mapexplore/mapexplore2.html

Gather Resources (Types)

1) Information (books, people, Internet sites)

2) Supplies (notebooks, construction paper, display boards)

3) Technological Tools (computers, cameras, printers)

Draw a Storyboard

http://pbl-online.org/Map/mapexplore/mapexplore4.html

Design Principle #5

Manage the Process

http://www.pbl-online.org/ManagetheProject/projectoverview/movie/FLV1_managemovie.htm

What is Effective Management?

• Orient

• Group

• Organize

• Clarify

• Monitor and Regulate

• Manage

• Evaluate

Key Steps in Managing Projects

1) Share Project Goals with Students

2) Use Problem-solving Tools

3) Use Checkpoints and Milestones http://www.pbl-online.org/ManagetheProject/projectexplore/projectexplore4Charts/progresscheck.htm

4) Plan for Evaluation and Reflection