Project+Based+Learning

= = =Mapping the Project =
 * Where should I begin? Look at curricular "Big Ideas" and work backwards. [|PDE's Standards Aligned System (SAS)] is a good resource for this.
 * Ask yourself: What real world, relevant products can students create to show a deep understanding of these concepts? I like to emphasize both the PURPOSE and the AUDIENCE when designing a project. What is the project intended to DO and who will benefit from it? Having focus and authenticity with both of these can help with designing assessment and pushing into Quad D.
 * What am I going to assess? Begin with at least a rough idea of a rubric--it will help define the outcomes and rigor expected.
 * What tools, technologies will best facilitate this?
 * What other resources do I need to provide?
 * Group vs individual?
 * How long can I commit to this? Class time?
 * Design a project schedule

**Room for Creativity is Vital**  Choice in final product form can be beneficial, although sometimes things are a little easier to manage if the final product form is consistent for all. It is important though, that the approach is left open to creativity.
 * Some options for product choice might include: video, website, other web 2.0 tool, pamphlets, physical product, etc.
 * Tic-Tac toe grid can give choices throughout the year if more than one project is expected
 * [[file:Tic Tac Toe Project Template.doc]]

=Managing the Process =  I recommend starting from the absolute final due date and working backwards. Add days for draft revision and rough draft due dates next. Allow sufficient time for "work days" and several days to brainstorm and set the foundation for the project. I also recommend putting research at the front, especially when working with digital projects. In other words, collect information, then decide on a presentation method.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Start with some preliminary research-students do some research to explore possible topics. This can help them find one that is of high interest to them.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students spend time brainstorming--many times this step is overlooked and students settle on the first idea when the "best" idea never gets voiced! Especially important with group projects that offer choice in final product form.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students write a project proposal and approval- Students must to "sell" their topic to the teacher. Once again, it is important to emphasize authentic purpose and audience--how will their project address these?
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Review project timeline and due dates
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Work Days with integrated "check points"
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Draft peer review day
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Draft revision day
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Final due date--for class presentation OR at home viewing and evaluation from a wiki. Having students view projects from home saves the five day run of presentation after presentation. Creating a Google form to hold them accountable for peer review and evaluation works well to hold them accountable.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">**Web 2.0 tools** give a window into the process by allowing the teacher access to the project as it develops. This way they can comment on progress and help to direct/redirect the project as necessary. Integrating several opportunities for formative assessment throughout the process is crucial and web-based tools make this easy to facilitate.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Glogster-- if students are designing these, make sure to use Glogster EDU so you can set up and monitor all student accounts under your login.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Google Docs --students can work collaboratively on documents and presentations and share these with the teacher who can monitor and comment anytime from any computer. Google forms can also be used to do peer reviews.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wikis -- Students can use a wiki to collaborate and/or as a design platform for projects. Teachers can use the discussion tabs to comment on the progress and communicate with students at any time.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Blogs --Students might keep an online journal of a project's progress. Teachers can comment at any time.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Titan Pad - A very easy to use collaborative tool for students to use for brainstorming or at any time for project collaboration. Sharing this link with the teacher will allow them to comment on progress.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">**Project and Tool Resources for Anytime, Anywhere Support (web-based)**
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wiki or other web page
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Calendar with work dates, check point dates, draft dates and other deadlines
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Host projects for group peer reviews (rubric based) and presentations
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">[|Student resources for project tools]

=<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Implementing the Project =
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Group vs individual
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Assign specific tasks if group project, especially in lower level classes
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">How much time will be allowed in class?
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">How can they connect and collaborate from home?
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Rubric is a guide, not just a grading tool, and should be referred to frequently.

=<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Assessing the Project = = = =<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Getting Started with Project Based Learning: = =<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">**Sample Rubrics** =
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Place formative windows along the way to check progress and alignment with objectives
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Involve students in rubric design and in using it to evaluate sample projects. If you have an "excellent" and a "poor" project they can review from a previous year, this is a good way to get them using the rubric. (see sample rubrics below).
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Peer assessment of other projects either via live presentation or at home by reviewing projects posted on a wiki or website. Google forms works well for this.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Peer assessment of self and group members--I like to use a likert scale ranking and written justification of each group member's contribution. The group's rankings can then be averaged to give a grade for collaborative effort.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">[] --a thorough overview of project based learning...fantastic resource for anyone new to this idea.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">[] includes some project based learning ideas from ESchool News.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">[] --PDE's Standards Aligned System portal is a good place to start browsing for materials and resources connected to state standards. Definitely a work in progress, but it does contain some great lesson and project ideas like this one: [] --a detailed, multi step set of activities that culminates in students creating their own virtual exhibit of the history of voting in the US.

=<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Project Tools = <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;"> [|This]is a sampling of tools that my students have used to create projects.