Loading...The PBLU pilot program is ending and this class is currently unavailable. Please let us know if you'd like to be notified when the class is offered again.
Duration
2 weeks
Time Committment
5 - 6 total hours
Just telling students that you’re embarking on a project together is no guarantee of engagement. On the other hand, if you start with an effective project launch, you’ll spark students’ interest and get their buy-in from day one. Your students will see the need to gain knowledge and skills, and they will be excited and ready to dig into the project.
This class teaches you how to set the stage for successful PBL by launching your project with an effective Entry Event, Driving Question, and whole-class discussion that establishes a Need to Know.
Learning outcomes:
- You will understand the qualities of an effective Entry Event, including the role of novelty (to focus attention), emotional connection (to make learning meaningful), and relevance (to make students care)
- You will develop a repertoire of strategies so that you can vary Entry Events based on learner needs, interests, backgrounds
- You will know how to introduce the Driving Question for the project so that you activate students’ curiosity and encourage them to ask more questions
- You will understand how to facilitate a whole-class discussion to find out what students need to know to proceed with the project
- You will be able to clearly connect the Entry Event with the project topic, Driving Question, and students’ final products or performances so it all adds up to a high-quality learning experience
The requirements:
- You must pick a PBLU project during this pilot and use it during the applicable class assignments. Absolutely NO other projects will be allowed. Please submit your suggestions for other projects to the Community Wish List.
- You must create an Edmodo account and check it on a daily basis during the class. No one will be allowed to join their group once the Edmodo code is locked two days (Wednesday at 12pm Eastern Time) after the start of the class.
- You must satisfactorily complete the straightforward quizzes and short assignments, and participate in online discussions & polls to receive credit for the class. There are no papers to write or exams to take. The class is pass/fail.
- You will complete the assignments on time. NO late assignments will be accepted. You can continue with the series, but you will have to retake the class the next time it is offered.
NOTE: Assignments will not be given early. If you have other commitments that prevent you from completing the assignments during the two week time period, please sign up for the class the next time it is offered.
The expectations:
- You will have internet access throughout the duration of the class.
- You will be flexible as we learning together during this pilot process.
- You will stay on topic during online discussions and refer to the FAQS and defer to to the Contact link on pblu.org when necessary.
- You will not post directly to your assigned group unless prompted to by your facilitator.
Dayna Laur
Dayna Laur is a 14-year veteran social studies teacher in Pennsylvania. Her range of experience varies from AP level courses to co-taught Special Education inclusion courses. She has her National Board Certification, a B.A. in History from Virginia Tech, a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Pittsburgh, and a M.S. in 21st Century Teaching and Learning from Wilkes University.
Dayna has worked closely with the Classrooms for the Future initiative in Pennsylvania, presenting to teachers, instructional technology coaches, administrators, and higher education faculty members on ways in integrate project-based learning in a technology rich classroom environment. She was featured as the model teacher for Authentic Based Classroom Instruction as produced by the National Institute for Professional Practice and in Edutopia’s Schools that Work Series.
Before class starts, you must pick a project that you plan on customizing while taking the class. Your two major class assignments will require you to demonstrate what you learned by applying it to the project you selected.
The online class is facilitated on Edmodo, a social learning platform. If you don’t have an account, then please sign up for a free teacher account. If you need help with Edmodo, then go to their Help Center. After you’ve created an account, then just relax. An email will be sent out a week before class starts with further instructions. Keep a look out and check your spam folder just in case.
Also, if you’re new to Project Based Learning (PBL), then you might want to watch this archived video, PBL Essential Elements Webinar. During this webinar, John Larmer, Director of Product Development at BIE, explains the key elements of effective, rigorous Project Based Learning, using an example from a video by Common Craft.
Required Reading is short articles about the topics of each class. Each reading has links to more in-depth information about the topic.
Required Reading is made available to enrolled members of the class one week before class begins.
The Class Discussion is a social Q&A forum where you will be able to submit questions you Need to Know (N2K) and comments to other peoples’ questions. The community will be able to “put a gold star” on questions that are the most important in order to move them up the ranking for the facilitator to post timely answers. The facilitator can also “pick” or highlight outstanding replies to questions, so that everyone benefits from the expertise within the community.
If you are enrolled in this class, then you will have access to the Class Discussion a week before class starts.
You must also sign up and sign in to access Class Discussions.