SHOW NOTES
PBL Brings the Rs
This episode focuses on rigor and relevance in Project Based Learning (PBL).
- Ryan uses the example of Dixie Elementary, a Title 1 school in Kentucky that improved its rating from a D to an A using PBL.
- Ryan emphasizes that Dixie Elementary achieved this success not through rote learning but through best practices, engagement, and empowerment.
- Ryan highlights that Dixie Elementary incorporated community partners, workshops with content-based practices, need-to-knows, formative assessments like quizzes and tests, and presentations to authentic audiences.
- Ryan stresses the importance of authenticity and relevance in PBL, arguing that it’s challenging to have a rigorous problem without a community partner.
- Ryan outlines three steps to increase rigor in PBL:
- Start with standards, emphasizing the need to unpack them and be intentional about their implementation.
- Create a Depth of Knowledge (DOK) level four driving question, which is non-googleable, requires in-depth research, and uses higher-order thinking verbs.
- Develop rigorous performance tasks as benchmarks, ensuring students synthesize ideas rather than merely regurgitate facts.
- Presentations are a key element of PBL, as they prepare learners and enhance transparency.
- Ryan suggests analyzing presentations to gauge the rigor of the performance task, noting that if students are merely repeating facts, the task might lack depth.
- Ryan encourages teachers to identify power standards within their district or school, suggesting a collaborative approach to developing them if they don’t already exist.
- There are three steps for increasing rigor, emphasizing the importance of evaluating driving questions and developing challenging benchmarks.
- Ryan argues that rigor and relevance are intertwined, with the real-world problem driving deeper exploration of content.
- The episode concludes with a call to action, directing listeners to an on-demand course on end products within the PBL Movement online community.
The PBL Movement Online Community, highlighting features:
- Access to on-demand courses on various PBL topics like driving questions and group contracts.
- A private and active Facebook group for members with paid moderators to answer questions.
- A project library with resources such as rubrics and product examples.
- Live support from PBL experts to assist with implementing the resources.
The next episode will focus on intentionally designing learning spaces to facilitate collaboration.
Resources
Magnify Learning – www.magnifypbl.com
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