Project Based Learning

End or Start the  School Year with a
​True Project Based Learning Activity

One way to move to a Phase Three Blended Learning Environment is to implement Project Based Learning (PBL).  A PBL turns the learning over to the students and provides each student with choice, voice, and ownership on how they plan to learn the standards through the projects. One of the critical elements of moving PBL to the Blended Learning world is to continue with the mini-lessons, pacing guide, and differentiated instruction while the students are working on their Project Based Learning activity.  

Side Note:  Implementing Project Based Learning can seem to be overwhelming.  However, it is better to try to deploy a PBL and epically fail versus not trying at all.  This blog post will walk you through a sample PBL and provide you with a two-week guide for you and the students.  

Before we go any further, what is Project vs Project Based Learning? 
“Projects” can represent a range of tasks that can be done at home or in the classroom, by parents or groups of students, quickly or over time. While project-based learning (PBL) also features projects, in PBL the focus is more on the process of learning and learner-peer-content interaction that the end-product itself. (Take a moment to read this blog post to learn more about Project vs Project Based Learning) The chart below by Amy Mayer

Marcia's Coaching Tips on PBL

When I am talking with teachers, my simple definition is this.  A Project is what you tell the students they have to generate.  For example, a teacher would say to the students, "we are going to redesign the classroom.  As a group, you will need to measure, design, and create a new layout".  

A Project Based Learning Activity, starts with a hook.  Here is an example of a hook or driving question to use within your classroom.  When I was teaching at Worthington City Schools, the PTA would always give the teachers money to spend on their classroom.  Below is an example of how I would turn the generosity of the PTA into a Project Based Learning Opportunity,

The PTA president kicks off the project by presenting to the class.  She explains to the students that the PTA  is giving their classroom 500 dollars to spend.   In two weeks, she would like the students to present to the PTA on how we should spend the money on their classroom.  

That is it, as a teacher you say nothing more!  The students then come up with their ideas on what they would do with the money.  Other vital elements tie into the PBL, which, I will describe later in this post.  The critical takeaway is knowing that a PBL starts with a hook or a driving question, an end date, and an authentic audience.  (View the Project Based Learning Planning packet for more ideas.)

Getting Started

There is so much research out there on Project Based Learning.  Please take a moment to review research based websites, follow blog post, and Twitter Feeds, before deploying a Project Based Learning Activity within your classroom.  Why? Because the more organized you are the better the project will run.  Check-ins, Progress Monitoring, timelines, and becoming a project manager are now part of your teaching role as well as teaching the standards that align with the projects.  Click on the different tabs to view more resources. 

• Website
• Videos
• Twitter
• Extra

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Project Based Learning Websites

• PBLWorks - AKA www.bie.org
• Blog Post on PBL from Edutopia 
• NEA Research on PBL 
• What is PBL? from Defined STEM
• Free Printables for PBL - Templates, Rubrics, Resources

Twitter Hashtags: 

• #PBL
• #PBLWorld
• #PBLWorks
• #3PoBL - Follow this hashtag to tie in PBL to Blended Learning 

Grab free printable from BIE.org 

If Projects Based Learning scares you, then try a Passion Project:  Here is a s step by step guide on deploying passion projects into your classroom

Sample Hooks or Driving Questions

This is where my creative brain explodes with ideas for Project Based Learning.  While working with teachers on their first Project Based Learning Activity, I always start with the learning targets or standards.  As a team we need to know what needs to be covered and the expectations from the students.  Next, we try to tie in animals or the planet for the first PBL.  Why?  Because kids love animals and most kids want to find a way to save the planet.  Again, this is for the teacher's first deployment of PBL. 

Sample Hooks

This is one of my favorite hooks to show when deploying PBL. The video is of a sea turtle caught in a helium baloon.  (There are tons of videos on turtles and plastic.  This video is one that is not so hard to watch and can start the students thinking)

Animal Tracker Hook

I send the students to www.ocearch.org website and let them explore.  The next step the students have to come up with thoughts or projects that align to what they saw on the website.  

4Ocean

Provide the students with a 4Ocean trash bag.  Showcase the #trashtag  and send them to www.4Ocean.com

Closer to Home Hooks

I live in Ohio and work with many schools in Iowa, Ohio, New York, and Nebraska.  Sometimes, talking about ocean conservation does not hit home with the students in the middle of the country.  Therefore, I talk about the Humane Society.  The hook for this project would be to have the students visit a shelter or have a member from the Humane society visit the classroom.

After the Hook: Now What? 

After you provide the students with a hook, let them brain storm.  Brainstorming with a partner, with a group, by themselves.  Let the students have time to think. 

Fish On

Once the students have an idea, have them write the ideas down on fish cutouts.  Why fish cutouts?  Because they are fun and it goes along with the Hook idea.  Plus, students like to have a variety.  Instead of having the students write on post-it notes, paper, or in a Google Form, let them write the ideas on a fish.  If you don't want to cut out fish, you can buy them from Amazon.  Trust me; you will get a lot more ideas if you let the students write on fish cutouts.  

The Bracket Challenge

While the students are brainstorming their ideas, have them tape the fish to the wall or dry erase board.  Let the students write as many ideas as they wish down on the fish.  (One idea per fish.  You will find out why in a minute). Once all of the fish are taped to the board, start the bracket challenge.  

Create your bracket or use the sample bracket showcased above.  I like to tape the fish to the bracket and let the students move the fish from one winning idea to the next.  Note:  Some teachers will stop after the first couple of rounds and let the students pick one of the project ideas.  Other teachers will have the students complete the whole bracket, and the top four ideas become the focus of the class.  It's your classroom; you can set up the parameters.  

Start to Blend Your Project Based Leaning 

While I am working with educators, I notice that some of them think that they can "only" do Project Based Learning for two weeks, rather than thinking about how to BLEND project-based learning into the current learning targets.  Let me explain.  Instead of thinking of PBL as a separate part of the lesson, think of it as part of the checklist.   Please take a look a look at the sample checklist that I made for a 6th-grade science class.  If you would like the link to the Google Doc, click here and download a copy of the checklist.  The students have time each day to work on their project.  Once all of the items are checked off of the checklist, then the students can spend the rest of the time working on their project. 

Planning Guide

I have created a 14 day planning guide for deploying and showcasing a Project Based Learning activity.  This guide is a starting point for both the teacher and the students.  The planning guide comes with: 

• ​Team Progression Board
• PBL Bracket
• Individual student log
• Team daily log
• 14 Day Checklist for the teacher
• Gallery Walk Note Cards
• Notes Page
• Click here to get your copy! 

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Learn More about Blended Learning 

Future Ready Skills

Classroom Timers

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