Managing your Project PBL

Keep the Driving Question in mind1 Post it in the room2 Link mini-lessons to it3 Have students blog about how their thinking has

changed each week4 Revisit it at the end of the project and discuss how

the question was answered

Driving Question

Information adapted from The Buck Institute for Educationrsquos (2011) PBL in the Elementary Grades Step-by-Step Guidance Tools and Tips for Standards-Focused K-5 Projects

Facilitating Classroom Inquiry1 Encourage students to ask questions

2 Use a variety of resources to develop provoke thought

3 Allow students to reflect on their findings (ie blog)

4 Ask DEEP questions

5 Allow the project to become truly open-ended

6 Facilitate investigation with multi-sources of media

7 Allow time for wonder reflection and sharing together

8 Provide time for meta-cognition

After the Entry Event1 Keep student interest and share the Driving Question2 Share the culminating product and presentation3 Discuss the Driving Question to find out student wonders 4 Explain the project details and share a project calendar

Conduct a ldquoNeed to Knowrdquo1 Ask - ldquoWhat do you need to know in order to successfully do the taskrdquo2 Record student responses using their own wording3 Do not answer these ldquoNeed to Knowrdquo questions at this time 4 Guide students when they are not identifying key ldquoNeed to Knowrdquo questions 5 Display the list and revisit it whenever needed

Rather than a ldquokeeper of knowledgerdquo the teacher should start to resemble a coach--as a ldquoguide on the side rather than sage on the stagerdquo

Needs-based mini-lessons are used as the direct instruction students receive in short bursts which is then followed with the student involvement

Build Collaboration Skills with Student Teams1 Scaffold collaboration 2 Provide students with forms contracts rubrics templates and other organizers3 Model behaviors for students and support students as they practice these skills4 Monitor and coach students by walking around (informal) to groups and meeting

(formal) with groups as needed

Understanding Critical Thinking1 Use student-friendly terms to display a chart with critical thinking skills2 Ask - ldquoWhat does this look or sound likerdquo3 Use Bloomrsquos Taxonomy to promote higher-level cognition 4 Model critical thinking through ldquothink-aloudrdquo strategies5 Provide students with tools like graphic organizers list of starters problem solving

steps

PBL on the WebbullBuck Institute of EducationbullEdutopiarsquos PBL ResourcesbullVideo Explanation of PBLbullThe Literacy Design Collaborative

Critical Thinking On the WebbullThinkingMapsbullThe Critical Thinking ConsortiumbullThe Foundation for Critical ThinkingbullThe Center for Creative LearningbullTen Takeaway TipsbullOnline Practice amp Scenarios

Critical ThinkingHere are a list of skills that can be shared with elementary-age students

Lower Gradesbull I listenbull I ask questionsbull I share ideasbull I use informationbull I think hard

Upper Gradesbull Explain concepts ideas or problems in your own

wordsbull Ask your team questions when you donrsquot understand

something bull Take time to understand the problem before solving it bull Find and use information to understand a topic or

solve a problembull Explain your solutions or thoughtsbull Try more than one way to solve a problem Donrsquot give

up

Formative Assessment1 Check studentsrsquo understanding and monitor their progress 2 Locate student needs to drive your instruction3 Ensure learning goals and objectives are being met 4 Make sure the Driving Question is being answered5 Check the quality and progress of work within groups

It can be done

An inherent goal of PBL is to make students independent problem solvers that take pride in their work

Set check points

on your Project Calendar

Promote self-evaluation and peer-evaluation

Presentations for the Final Productbull Provide students with a presentation rubric

bull Model or watch video clips of strong amp interesting presentations

bull Teach students how to organize their thoughts for the presentation

bull Create a climate of support for students

bull Practice presentations and allow for peer amp teacher feedback

bull Host the presentations and invite stakeholders

bull Engage the presenter in discussion at the conclusion

Created by Dan Gibson aka Hoosier_teacher