PBL+Technology=Magic!

As I started looking into planning for this year, I knew that my teaching methods would look and feel quite different from 4th grade.  As a tech teacher I also knew I wanted my students to take charge of their own learning with me acting more as a facilitator.  Tech class is really the ideal place to use constructivist teaching to the fullest!  Because my school is also in the process of becoming an International Baccalaureate school, I also had to follow their set of goals and objectives.  I found the answer to my problems....Project-based learning (PBL)!!!

Project-based learning allows students to take charge of their learning by creating authentic representations of their learning.  Project-based learning should be linked to real life scenarios, which helps students find purpose and motivation during the learning process.

PBL should:

• be well organized, scheduled
• promote teamwork
• framed around essential questions
• provide multiple opportunities for varied assessments
• focus on skills driven approaches to teaching and learning

Give students a real life problem to solve (Essential Question), set some parameters, and watch the magic happen!  While I have only just begun to dig into this fabulous way of teaching, I have found it to be quite effective thus far.  Centering my units around PBL will help enhance student engagement and achievement.  I can't help but think of the famous quote by Confucius, "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."


Here are some resources that have helped me get started with PBL:

http://cybraryman.com/projectbasedlearning.html
http://learninginhand.com/pbl
https://sites.google.com/site/learnthroughprojects/
http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/courses/tech315/pdfs/tech315_article5.pdf
http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=88058


~Lauren