Project (Problem) -Project (Problem) -Based Learning (PBL)Based Learning (PBL)

Friday, May 22, 2009Friday, May 22, 2009

Pioneer Middle SchoolPioneer Middle School

PBL is a learner-centered PBL is a learner-centered educational method:educational method:

Students are progressively given Students are progressively given more and more responsibility for their more and more responsibility for their own education.own education.

Students become increasingly Students become increasingly independent of the teacher independent of the teacher for their education. for their education.

Learner-centered, cont.Learner-centered, cont.

Produces independent learners Produces independent learners who can continue to learn on who can continue to learn on their own in life and in their their own in life and in their chosen careers. chosen careers.

Teacher provides the educational Teacher provides the educational materials and guidance that materials and guidance that facilitate learningfacilitate learning

PBL is based on real world PBL is based on real world problems:problems:

Complex problems encountered in the real Complex problems encountered in the real world as a stimulus for learning.world as a stimulus for learning.

Integrating and organizing learned Integrating and organizing learned information in ways that will ensure its recall information in ways that will ensure its recall and application to future problems.and application to future problems.

Problems are designed to challenge Problems are designed to challenge learners to develop effective problem-learners to develop effective problem-solving and critical thinking skills.solving and critical thinking skills.

PBL is motivating:PBL is motivating:

Involved in active learningInvolved in active learning

Work with real problemsWork with real problems

What they study is seen as important and What they study is seen as important and relevant.relevant.

Students apply what they learn to real-life Students apply what they learn to real-life experiencesexperiences

Big Ideas and Enduring

Understandings

Important to Know and Do

Worth Being Familiar WithTraditional quizzes and tests:

•Paper-and-pencil

•Selected-response

•Constructed response

Performance tasks and projects:

•Complex

•Open-ended

•Authentic

Assessment Methods

Essential Learning

The objectives of PBL is to The objectives of PBL is to produce learners who will:produce learners who will: Engage the problems they face in life Engage the problems they face in life

and career with initiative and and career with initiative and enthusiasm. enthusiasm.

Problem-solve effectively using an Problem-solve effectively using an integrated, flexible and usable integrated, flexible and usable knowledge base. knowledge base.

Objectives, con’t.Objectives, con’t. Employ effective self-directed learning Employ effective self-directed learning

skills.skills. Continuously monitor and assess the Continuously monitor and assess the

adequacy of their knowledge, adequacy of their knowledge, problem-solving and self-directed problem-solving and self-directed learning skills. learning skills.

Collaborate effectively as a member of Collaborate effectively as a member of a group. a group.

VideosVideos http://www.edutopia.org

/integrated-studies-introduction-video

http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning-overview-video

http://www.edutopia.org/team-learning

http://www.edutopia.org/clear-view-charter-elementary-school

http://www.flickr.com/groups/reinventingpbl/pool/

Teachers report that PBL:Teachers report that PBL: Helps students to both "know" and "do." Helps students to both "know" and "do."

Supports students with problem solving, Supports students with problem solving, communication, and self-management. communication, and self-management.

Encourages the development of habits of Encourages the development of habits of mind associated with lifelong learningmind associated with lifelong learning

Integrates curriculum areas, thematic Integrates curriculum areas, thematic instruction, and community issues. instruction, and community issues.

Assesses performance on Assesses performance on content and skills using content and skills using criteria similar to those in the criteria similar to those in the work worldwork world

Meets the needs of learners Meets the needs of learners with varying skill levels and with varying skill levels and learning styles. learning styles.

Engages and motivates bored Engages and motivates bored or indifferent students. or indifferent students.

Why is it good for Why is it good for students?students? Project learning helps students apply what Project learning helps students apply what

they learn to real-life experiences and they learn to real-life experiences and provides an all-around enriching education.provides an all-around enriching education.

Because project learning is filled with active Because project learning is filled with active and engaged learning, it inspires students and engaged learning, it inspires students to obtain a deeper knowledge of the to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they're studying. subjects they're studying.

Why is it good for Why is it good for students?students? Research also indicates that students are Research also indicates that students are

more likely to retain the knowledge gained more likely to retain the knowledge gained through this approach far more readily than through this approach far more readily than through traditional textbook-centered through traditional textbook-centered learning. learning.

In addition, students develop confidence In addition, students develop confidence and self-direction as they move through and self-direction as they move through both team-based and independent work. both team-based and independent work.

Power of TeamworkPower of Teamwork

http://www.powerofteamworkmovie.com/http://www.powerofteamworkmovie.com/

Team Discussion TimeTeam Discussion Time

At what level does your team operate? Is At what level does your team operate? Is it time to raise the bar?it time to raise the bar?

Are our objectives aligned with our Are our objectives aligned with our values?values?

Does your team capitalize on synergy? Does your team capitalize on synergy? What is the evidence?What is the evidence?

Is your team ready to take off and reach Is your team ready to take off and reach new levels of success?new levels of success?

Rubicon AtlasRubicon Atlas Sign in Sign in ReferencesReferences

UbD, Unit and Lesson PlansUbD, Unit and Lesson Plans Alignment Backward DesignAlignment Backward Design GRASPSGRASPS Knowledge and SkillsKnowledge and Skills Verbs for UnderstandingVerbs for Understanding

Blooms’ TaxonomyBlooms’ Taxonomy Teaching and Learning (file folder tab on left)Teaching and Learning (file folder tab on left)

Problem-based learningProblem-based learning

RESOURCESRESOURCES http://www.edutopia.org/big-list-project-http://www.edutopia.org/big-list-project-

learninglearning www.pbl.orgwww.pbl.org http://www.pbli.org/http://www.pbli.org/ http://davidson.k12.nc.us/pbl/http://davidson.k12.nc.us/pbl/

k5links.htm#morek5links.htm#more

Or seach “project based learning” or Or seach “project based learning” or “problem based learning”“problem based learning”