Session 1
Session 2
Session 3

Session 4
Session 5
Session 6

Links
Other

Session Schedule

    Monday, September 29:  4pm OR 8pm  -  Focus Topic: Overview, PBL in your school setting
     Wednesday, October 22: 4pm OR 8pm  -     Focus Topic: PBL design and planning
     Wednesday, November 19: 4pm OR 8pm  - Focus Topic: PBL assessment
     Wednesday, January 21: 4pm OR 8pm    -  Focus Topic: PBL implementation
     Wednesday, February 18: 4pm OR 8pm -   Focus Topic: PBL experiences – yours and others
     Wednesday, March 25: 4pm OR 8pm   -  Focus Topic: Research in PBL; Concluding Remarks
 

Session Organization

Each session will be an opportunity to:

• share updates on implementation progress and discuss implementation issues

• share experiences and ideas for best practices

• share and clarify content related issues
   

• review an aspect of PBL (focus topic for the session) by reading/viewing target materials

• bring up and discuss questions, share opinions and inputs related to reading/video material associated with respective session
   

• Check topics outlined below. Please email me other questions/issues you would like discussed. Also, email me links to the online and other resources you would like to share. I will post them on this page.
   

• Session length: 1 hour to 1 hour 15mins

Session 1 - Monday, September 29:  4pm OR 8pm
Focus Topic: Overview, PBL in your school setting
 

Session topics and other resources to read/view before the session:

• Main reading: Project Based Learning Handbook, by BIE - Chapter I (pp. 3-10)

• Intro to PBL

  • http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning-introduction

  • http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-overview

• Pros and cons

• PBL and your teaching style

• PBL and your school

• PBL and parents

  • http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-what-parents-can-do 

Session 2 - Wednesday, October 22: 4pm OR 8pm
Focus Topic: PBL design and planning
 

Session topics and other resources to read/view before the session:

• Main reading: Project Based Learning Handbook, by BIE -  Chapter II (pp. 13-42) and  Chapter II (pp. 83-93) 

  • Coverage Verses "Uncoverage" (BIE PBL Handbook - I A)

  • PBL in standards-based education (BIE PBL Handbook - IA)

  • defining project  (BIE PBL Handbook - II A)

  • defining outcomes (BIE PBL Handbook - II A)

  • Crafting driving question (BIE PBL Handbook - II B)

  • Mapping the project (BIE PBL Handbook - II D)

• http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-structure

• http://www.edutopia.org/start-pyramid

• http://www.edutopia.org/teaching-module-pbl-how  

Session 3 -  Wednesday, November 19: 4pm OR 8pm
Focus Topic: PBL assessment

Session topics and other resources to read/view before the session:

• Main reading: Project Based Learning Handbook, by BIE - Chapter II
  (Section C - Plan the Assesment) (pp 44-80)

• PBL products

• Rubrics for PBL products

http://pbl-online.org/PlanTheAssessment/explore/planexplore1.html

One of the reasons for PBL is that PBL Lends Itself to Authentic Assessment
- As claimed on page http://www.edutopia.org/teaching-module-pbl-why

Authentic assessment and evaluation allow us to systematically document a child's progress and development. PBL encourages this by doing the following:

* It lets the teacher have multiple assessment opportunities.
* It allows a child to demonstrate his or her capabilities while working independently.
* It shows the child's ability to apply desired skills such as doing research.
* It develops the child's ability to work with his or her peers, building teamwork and group skills.
* It allows the teacher to learn more about the child as a person.
* It helps the teacher communicate in progressive and meaningful ways with the child or a group of children on a range of issues.

Your thoughts / ideas and experiences ?

POST SESSION LINKS:

Nov_19_Skype_session3_Products.dyz

Nov_19_Skype_session3_4pm.dyz

Nov_19_Skype_session3_8pm.dyz

Classroom presenter software (Free)

http://classroompresenter.cs.washington.edu/

Ubiquitous presenter software-derivative of classroom presenter (free)

http://up.ucsd.edu/

DyKnow software ( commercial)

www.dyknow.com
 

Session 4 - Wednesday, January 28: 4pm OR 8pm
Focus Topic: PBL implementation
 

Session topics and other resources to read/view before the session:

• Managing groups  (BIE PBL Handbook - II E: pp. 97-102)

• Implementation tools (BIE PBL Handbook - II E: pp. 103-124)

• Project Planning form  (BIE PBL Handbook - III C pp. 179-188)
   

• http://www.edutopia.org/new-skills-new-century

• Student's ideas

• Is this a problem for PBL - click and check?

Social studies topic you wanted addressed:

·       life science issues such as cloning and altering DNA
  http://www.saltspring.com/capewest/pbl.htm       

·       how the wind turbines are working out for the schools that where part of the grant last cycle; advice on the application process for the next cycle of the grant

Potential topics related to the use of PBL that you wanted addressed:

·       Chunking segments of the PBL

·       How to fit parts of the PBL into 40 minute classes

·       have students set up a "town meeting" such as we had in class this summer, but with more planning and development

·       discussing how it is going

·       pitfalls, successes

·       use of time for PBL compared to other forms of instruction

·       Hear what others have found to be good or bad

Session 5 -   Wednesday, February 18: 4pm OR 8pm
Focus Topic: PBL experiences – yours and those of others
 

Session topics and other resources to read/view before the session:

• Other experiences (BIE PBL Handbook - III A,B)

• Your experiences – please prepare to bring up and discuss

• http://www.edutopia.org/beginning-journey-five-year-olds-drive-their-own-pbl-projects

Social studies topic you wanted addressed:

·       best practices

·       earth science issues

·       sustainability

·       current environmental issues

·       Additional renewable resources applicable to Kansas

·       solar panels

·       Desertification Global Climate Change Impact of Alternative Energy Sources on Kansas Economy

Potential topics related to the use of PBL that you wanted addressed:

·       current environmental issues

Content below in development
Please send contributions, questions and materials to add here before next class

Session 6 - Wednesday, March 25: 4pm OR 8pm
Focus Topic: Research in PBL and Concluding Remarks:
 

Session topics and other resources to read/view before the session:

• http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-research

• http://www.edutopia.org/teaching-module-pbl-why

• Alberts: Redefining Science

• Blumenfeld: - Motivating project-based learning: sustaining the doing, supporting the learning

Social studies topic you wanted addressed:

·       Alternative PBL methods in science in particular (when is PBL less appropriate and what are good PBL alternatives)

·       How to prepare students for the state science test this spring

·       Resources for prepared PBL units for middle school science and social studies

Potential topics related to the use of PBL that you wanted addressed:

·       Use of PBL in the medical world and other real world applications

·       Alternative PBL methods in science in particular (when is PBL less appropriate and what are good PBL alternatives)

Links

• Project Based Learning Handbook, published by the Buck Institute for Education. (BIE PBL Handbook)
   

• http://pblmm.k12.ca.us/topics_main.htm

• http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning

• http://pbl-online.org/  

COOL WIND ENGINES (Thanks Curt!) Folks, send more!

www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4224763.html  windbelt
www.ecogeek.org/content/view/  wind robot
www.treehugger.com/files/2008/08/ventomobile.php  ventmobile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkcn8ZkvKKc  forever car

PBL:

http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning-achievement-motivation

OUR VERY OWN

News - Truesdell Middle School Check out!!

Models

Designs

Presentations

PUTTING TURBINE UP
Photos of the turbine project at Ell-Saline

SCIENCE OLYMPIAD 2009 - Physical Science Lab - Wind generators

Science Olympiad Official Web Site

Al Gore at AAPT/AAAS

at Sciam.com

at AAAS

Methane video

Photovoltaics PPT

Prospecting wind and Sun - US

Prospecting Sun Europe

Other

• Other resources:

ONLINE PBL MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

IZZIT.ORG

http://www.izzit.org/events/index.php

Takes you to articles such as:

Farmers fight for property control (September 2, 2008)

Renewable energy firms clamor for tax breaks (October 9, 2008)

Izzit.org also has a free video titled, Unintended Consequences: Eminent Domain

This is one of my favorite teacher web sites. Izzit sends one to two current event articles each school day with a set of questions dealing with the article. Student can read the articles online, or teachers have permission to make copies for class use.

Izzit also sends each teacher one free video per year. I have not seen or used the Eminent Domain video. You can view the teacher's guide online.

Sandia / ACTS - PBL Workshop