Project-Based Learning

Learning In Action!

Copyright 2003 The George Lucas Educational Foundation

Obstacles

The biggest obstacle to school change is our memories.

-- Dr. Allen Glenn

Excerpts from Edutopia

Creating schools for the 21st Century requires less time looking in the rearview mirror and more vision anticipating the road ahead. Teaching has been an activity undertaken behind closed doors between moderately consenting participants. Technology enables students, teachers, and administrators to reach out beyond the school building. Innovative classrooms are not defined by fixed places but by their spirit of curiosity and collaboration among students, teachers, and others in a true learning community.

Change

We must be the change we want to see in the world.

-- Mahatma Gandhi

Project-Based Learning (PBL)

What is Project-Based Learning?

PBL is curriculum-fueled and standards-based.

PBL asks a question or poses a problem that ALL students can answer. Concrete, hands-on experiences come together during projectbased learning.
PBL allows students to investigate issues and topics in real-world problems.

PBL fosters abstract, intellectual tasks to explore complex issues.

How Does Project-Based Learning Work?

Question Plan Schedule Monitor

Assess
Evaluate

Question

Start with the Essential Question.

Take a real-world topic and begin an in-depth investigation. Make sure it is relevant to your students.

Plan

Plan which content standards will be addressed while answering the question.

Involve students in the questioning, planning, and project-building process. Teacher and students brainstorm activities that support the inquiry.

Schedule

Teacher and students design a timeline for project components.

Set benchmarks. Keep it simple and age-appropriate.

Monitor

Facilitate the process.

Mentor the process.

Utilize rubrics.

Assess

Make the assessment authentic.

Know authentic assessment will require more time and effort from the teacher.
Vary the type of assessment used.

Evaluate

Take time to reflect individually and as a group.

Share feelings and experiences. Discuss what worked well. Discuss what needs change. Share ideas that will lead to new inquiries, thus new projects.

Lets Begin
Think BIG!
The Question is the Answer!
What is the Question?

Activities

Read More Fun Than a Barrel of ... Worms?! Read Geometry in the Real World: Students as Architects Read March of the Monarchs Discuss which of the projects you just read about grabbed your attention. Why? What ideas do you have for a project? What question will you ask your students?

Activities

Record your ideas.

Record questions that will launch project-based learning. Choose one of your questions. Brainstorm with your colleagues. Create a concept map. What content standards will be addressed? What subjects can be woven into the process?

References

The George Lucas Educational Foundation Website www.edutopia.org Why We Assess Students - And How McLean, James E. and Lockwood, Robert E. Corwin Press, Inc. Learning By Heart Barth, Roland S. Jossey-Bass, Copyright 2001