Teacher Professional Development for Problem-Based Integration of Technology James D. Lehman Peggy A. Ertmer Jingshu Huang Sung-Hee Park Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Kathleen Keck Kathleen Steele Crawfordsville Community Schools Crawfordsville, IN

Background

AECT, Atlanta 3 Tech-Know-Build Background Increasingly students need to develop problem-solving skills Increasingly students need to develop problem-solving skills Changing expectations require new instructional approaches Changing expectations require new instructional approaches Student-centered instruction helps meet 21st-century needs Student-centered instruction helps meet 21st-century needs

AECT, Atlanta 4 Tech-Know-Build Problem/Project-Based Learning Situated learning in realistic contexts Situated learning in realistic contexts Meaningful problems / projects Meaningful problems / projects Anchor curriculum Anchor curriculum Student inquiry and usually product creation Student inquiry and usually product creation Authentic use of tools (technology) Authentic use of tools (technology)

AECT, Atlanta 5 Tech-Know-Build Characteristics Overarching driving question or problem Overarching driving question or problem Student-selected specific questions Student-selected specific questions Student investigations yielding artifacts Student investigations yielding artifacts Collaboration Collaboration Summary/communication of findings Summary/communication of findings

AECT, Atlanta 6 Tech-Know-Build Role of Technology Generally not the focus of direct instruction but an authentic tool for Generally not the focus of direct instruction but an authentic tool for  Acquiring relevant information  Gathering and manipulating data  Producing and presenting a culminating presentation, often in multimedia format

AECT, Atlanta 7 Tech-Know-Build Professional Development Needs School-based School-based Focused on student learning Focused on student learning Embedded in teachers’ daily lives Embedded in teachers’ daily lives Collaborative Collaborative Coaching and follow-up Coaching and follow-up

TKB Project

AECT, Atlanta 9 Tech-Know-Build 5-year Technology Innovation Challenge grant in Indiana 5-year Technology Innovation Challenge grant in Indiana Focused on development and implementation of PBL curriculum Focused on development and implementation of PBL curriculum Targeted mainly at sixth grade teachers Targeted mainly at sixth grade teachers Incorporating portable technologies, electronic mentoring, electronic links among partners Incorporating portable technologies, electronic mentoring, electronic links among partners

AECT, Atlanta 10 Tech-Know-Build Partners Partners  Crawfordsville Community Schools  Indianapolis Public Schools  Purdue University  Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI)  Corporate partners

AECT, Atlanta 11 Tech-Know-Build Teacher Development Goals Promote teachers’ understanding of PBL Promote teachers’ understanding of PBL Facilitate technology skills development Facilitate technology skills development Support teachers’ development and use of PBL activities incorporating technology Support teachers’ development and use of PBL activities incorporating technology

AECT, Atlanta 12 Tech-Know-Build Development Approach Initial intensive experience consisting of Initial intensive experience consisting of  PBL modeling activity involving teachers and students  Technology skills development  Teacher development of PBL curriculum units Teacher implementation of PBL units with follow-up and support Teacher implementation of PBL units with follow-up and support

AECT, Atlanta 13 Tech-Know-Build Implementation academic year academic year  2-day modeling activity in fall  Semester-long in-service course in fall  PBL units implemented in spring, academic year academic year  3-day modeling activity as part of  2-week summer institute  PBL units implemented during AY

PBL Modeling Activity

AECT, Atlanta 15 Tech-Know-Build PBL Modeling Activity 2-3 day activity involving 2-3 day activity involving  In-service teachers  Grade 6-12 students  Pre-service teachers Provides first-hand experience with PBL Provides first-hand experience with PBL  Understand the process  Experience changing roles  Use technology as a supporting tool

AECT, Atlanta 16 Tech-Know-Build PBL Modeling Activity Driving question Driving question  What’s in our water, why is it there, and what does it mean to us?

Identifying Investigations Mixed teams brainstormed possible investigation topics related to the driving question. Mixed teams brainstormed possible investigation topics related to the driving question.

Planning Teams planned and conducted their own investigations. Teams planned and conducted their own investigations.

Using Technology Technology was used as a supporting tool. Technology was used as a supporting tool.

AECT, Atlanta 20 Tech-Know-Build Presentations As a culminating activity, teams produced multimedia presentations of their investigations. As a culminating activity, teams produced multimedia presentations of their investigations.  Example Example

Outcomes

AECT, Atlanta 22 Tech-Know-Build Reactions ( ) In this activity, I feel like I learned a lot of science. In this activity, I feel like I learned new things about using technology. I would rather work by myself than in groups. I did not like the hands-on activities. Compared to what we usually do in school, I liked this activity better. I really do not like school. This project is okay, but it does not really relate to me and my life. Because of this project, I am more confident in my ability to do investigations. Strongly Disagree Disagree Undecided Agree Strongly Agree Likert-type Evaluation Items Grade 6-12 Students Pre-service Teachers In-service Teachers

AECT, Atlanta 23 Tech-Know-Build Reactions ( ) ExcitingBoring Too Easy Challenging Fun No Fun WasteWorthwhile WorstBest Semantic Differential Evaluation Items Grade 6-12 Students Pre-service Teachers In-service Teachers

AECT, Atlanta 24 Tech-Know-Build Reactions ( ) Responses to open-ended items indicated participants: Responses to open-ended items indicated participants:  Liked working with others and learning to use technology  Felt they learned content, information about the community, and how to use technology  Used words like fun, interesting, exciting, and worthwhile to describe the activity

AECT, Atlanta 25 Tech-Know-Build Teachers’ PBL Units ( / ) Why care about rain forest deforestation? Why care about rain forest deforestation? What makes something strong? What makes something strong? What good is math and science? What good is math and science? What makes the good life? What makes the good life? What is conformity? What is conformity? Why should I care about dead stuff? Why should I care about dead stuff? How does population impact the quality of life? How does population impact the quality of life? See unit

Implementation of Projects

AECT, Atlanta 27 Tech-Know-Build Project Implementation The first group of teachers implemented projects with their classes during the spring of The first group of teachers implemented projects with their classes during the spring of As a culminating activity, students and teachers presented project information to parents and the public at a Project Fair at the end of the school year. As a culminating activity, students and teachers presented project information to parents and the public at a Project Fair at the end of the school year. This year’s projects are being implemented now. This year’s projects are being implemented now.

AECT, Atlanta 28 Tech-Know-Build Student Projects ( ) Here, middle school students worked on a project related to the rain forest. Here, middle school students worked on a project related to the rain forest.

AECT, Atlanta 29 Tech-Know-Build Technology Use ( ) Students used various technologies including computers and video. Students used various technologies including computers and video.

AECT, Atlanta 30 Tech-Know-Build Sample Student Products ( ) Research papers Research papers  The Colonization of Mars: Is it Possible?  The SETI Institute: Is it Worth It?  Pondering the Fourth Dimension Posters Posters Video Video Presentations Presentations See example

What Have We Learned?

AECT, Atlanta 32 Tech-Know-Build PBL Unit Implementation ( ) 65% of teachers implemented their units 65% of teachers implemented their units All agreed that the students learned a lot All agreed that the students learned a lot 86% agreed that students enjoyed the unit (based on 7 survey respondents) 86% agreed that students enjoyed the unit (based on 7 survey respondents) 86% agreed that they would try it again, with some modification 86% agreed that they would try it again, with some modification (based on 7 survey respondents)

AECT, Atlanta 33 Tech-Know-Build Strengths ( ) Driving question provided a good focus Driving question provided a good focus Students did a good job gathering and presenting information Students did a good job gathering and presenting information Students were interested in the investigations they chose to pursue Students were interested in the investigations they chose to pursue

AECT, Atlanta 34 Tech-Know-Build Challenges ( ) Time Time Equipment and facilities Equipment and facilities Grouping strategies Grouping strategies Staying focused on driving question Staying focused on driving question Linking investigations to standards Linking investigations to standards Assessment Assessment

AECT, Atlanta 35 Tech-Know-Build Conclusions PBL - promising approach to developing students’ problem-solving skills PBL - promising approach to developing students’ problem-solving skills Technology can play a critical role Technology can play a critical role Students gain content knowledge, technology skills, and abilities to work cooperatively Students gain content knowledge, technology skills, and abilities to work cooperatively

AECT, Atlanta 36 Tech-Know-Build Conclusions Modeling is an effective way to help teachers understand PBL, gain confidence, and learn new approaches Modeling is an effective way to help teachers understand PBL, gain confidence, and learn new approaches While PBL can provide many rewards for teachers, it can also be challenging While PBL can provide many rewards for teachers, it can also be challenging Follow-up and support is essential for effective professional development Follow-up and support is essential for effective professional development

AECT, Atlanta 37 Tech-Know-Build Questions

AECT, Atlanta 38 Tech-Know-Build For more information