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Mastering the Role of the “Content Infuser” in PBL
In a learner-centered classroom, the traditional view of the teacher as the all-knowing sage-on-the-stage shifts into something more dynamic. But even in the most inquiry-driven environments, teachers still serve a critical function: the “content infuser.” This might sound like a fancy buzzword, but it nails the reality that even in student-led spaces like project-based learning (PBL), teachers still need to introduce new information, ideas, and frameworks for students to chew on, ponder, question, and grow from. The teacher provides those crucial moments where new knowledge is introduced to help students explore, connect, and make sense of their world. But here’s where it gets interesting—the delivery of this new content doesn’t…
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Project Based Learning – Creating Balance
I was heavily involved in the theater departments in my high school and college. While I loved acting, I was also extremely drawn to the light and sound booth. I was taken by our ability to use specific lighting or sound to create a mood for the set or impact how the audience saw the performers. The more involved I became with PBL, I found that creating the right balance for a project was a key to a successful project for my students (and for me). Just like adjusting the lights on a stage to set the perfect mood, teachers can manipulate various aspects of PBL to create an effective…
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Practical Techniques for Fostering Collaboration in Project-Based Classrooms
Teaching collaboration skills in project-based classrooms is essential for successful learning experiences. Explore informal techniques like active listening and fishbowl discussions, alongside formal methods such as structured peer reviews and observation feedback, to enhance student interactions and foster a supportive, collaborative environment.
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Two Questions: Grades and Student Created Learning Outcomes
Today I had the opportunity to participate in a webinar hosted by AJ Juliani. While I will never get used to presenting to a completely quiet room, I am very thankful to the lively group and the awesome questions they posted in the chat. There were two questions I did not have time to answer and they are excellent. So, I wanted to take some time to respond. In project based learning, students uncover and rehearse their learning while they complete the project. The project, in essence becomes the instruction. For this reason, it doesn’t always make sense to grade that work. After sharing this thinking, one of the participants…
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#HackingPBL Birthday Giveaway!
Each year, we have the extreme honor of working with educators from all over the globe as they implement project based practices. To say thank you and celebrate the third birthday of Hacking Project Based Learning: 10 Easy Steps to PBL and Inquiry in the Classroom, we are hosting a giveaway contest!
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Constructing a Mini-Lesson: A 4 Part Framework
When my oldest daughter was four, she went through a dinosaur phase. All dinosaurs, all the time; it was impossible to discuss anything else. Throughout the year, we traveled as a family and she learned to read. Slowly, her interests began to broaden and develop, and now at the age of nine, while she is still fascinated by dinosaurs, she has an open mind about new information. New experiences and ideas allowed her to explore and, ultimately, find an appreciation for varying topics. Mini Lesson Framework: The same is true in our classrooms because students cannot think critically about nothing. Even in a learner-centered classroom, the teacher fills the critical…
