Project Based Learning Week 8

Bok students conduct science experiments in Crooked Lake

Have you ever heard the idiom that teaching isn't for the faint of heart?    Teachers face many challenges  every day.  They are asked to balance time, standards, motivation, engagement, and assessment even before their students enter the room.  It's these challenges that make resources such as project based learning (PBL)an important tool for teachers. There are many reasons for educators to look into designing lessons and units that include problem based learning activities.  

One of the main reasons I would suggest incorporating project based learning opportunities in a middle school classroom is because it represents best teaching practices. These practices include using essential questions and designing your lessons and activities after you have developed the assessment.  Developing project based learning (PBL) units and activities begins with a driving question, or essential question, which will encourage students to solve the problem.  Designing lessons using backwards planning, such as what is described in Understanding by Design (UBD) “will advance the design of instructional activities to promote high levels of student achievement”.  PBL therefore is an ideal practice that teachers should consider using. 

Another reason to use PBL in your classroom is because digital learning encourages differentiated instruction.  Students are able to answer the driving question in different ways, unique to their skills and talents.  Teachers can create parameters around the work being done to maintain persistence, student input can be used to build the rubric which will enhance student understanding of the goals.  Web 2.0 tools, such as what Tony Vincent suggested from the Learning In Hand video,  will facilitate differentiation for student's needs and creativity.   

Although I understand the wide variety of benefits to students, you might ask why my students have not experienced one?  The truth...I have concerns.   Honestly, I have never been good with writing effective essential questions.  It takes creativity and I am not gifted with this ability.   I would like to find a unit or lesson that has already been created.  I just have not been successful finding one that I am ready to try out.  This is my first year teaching 7th grade and it has taken time to become familiar with the new frameworks.  Additionally, building a scope and sequence that meshes current events with historical concepts will be a primary focus of the work I do this summer.  (Truthfully, this course has opened up my eyes to so much that I just need time to sort through it all!)

Besides time, what will it take to get started?   Identifying a professional learning network to tap into would ease some of my hesitation. To gain confidence I can tap into PLN such as tweets on PBL on Twitter.  I have to remember that there are many people out there who have already tried them and listen to their advice.  A colleague at school is currently doing a PBL unit.  She had success with this unit when she taught 7th graders and found that it isn't working as well, even with the modifications she put into it, with the younger (6th grade) students.  I've stopped by and seen her students in action.  She has talked about some of her frustrations with planning and assessing but found that the planning she put into it in the beginning paid off.   

As you can see I think PBL is a wonderful tool to use in the middle school classroom.  I believe the tool should be one of a wide variety of methods teachers should use.  PBL is one that demands focus, planning, and dedication and for these reasons I would not recommend jumping into a unit without thoughtful decision making.  PBL can greatly benefit students and enrich the classroom but it isn't for the faint of heart.