1. Project Based Learning Summer Literacy Insititute

2. What is Project Based Learning? Teacher = Facilitator Student = Active participant in learning Learning experiences that involve students in real-world problem solving projects through which they can develop and apply skills and knowledge. Taps into the middle school students need to be taken seriously as a learner and puts them in a more "relevant" and engaging learning environment Requires the student to draw from many different sources and disciplines in order to reach a solution Builds 21st century skills: creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication

3. Why use Project Based Learning?

4. A classic project-based learning activity usually involves 4 basic elements: (1) an extended time frame; (2) collaboration; (3) inquiry, investigation, and research; and finally, (4) the construction of an artifact or performance of a consequential task.

5. The Process Topic(s) are chosen from curriculum, are relevant to the students' everyday experiences, and uses basic literacy and numeracy skills that can be applied across curriculum areas. The process allows students to practice previously acquired skills. Students: explore collect data record findings analyze draw conclusions construct models predict discuss survey interview SHARE

6. Essentials Students have responsibility for their learning. The structure of the simulations should allow for free inquiry. Incorporate a range of disciplines COLLABORATION The structure of the simulation should allow for students to take what is learned during independent inquiry and apply it to the overall solution of the problem Closing analysis Peer and self evaluation The activities carried out in problem-based learning must be those valued in the real world. RELEVANCE!

7. Example~ Cool Lessons Wiki Page

9. Tools

10. And more tools

11. " The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn." Alvin Toffler

12. PBL Investigation Down the Drain: (science) http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/drainproj/http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/drainproj/ Forensics: Get a Clue!: (math + science) The Outsiders: Teens & Life Choices: (LA) http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/lewis/outsiders/index.htmlhttp://projects.edtech.sandi.net/lewis/outsiders/index.html We Remember Anne Frank: (LA) http://teacher.scholastic.com/frank/tguide.htm The Shell Island Dilmma: (SS) http://www.ncsu.edu/coast/shell/index.html Space Invaders, Copycats, or Independent Inventors? (SS http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/ancientworld/index.html