Problem+Based+Learning

__***Characteristics of Engaged Learners**__ They invest personally in the quest for knowledge and understanding, in part because the questions or issues being investigated are drawn from their own curiosity about the world. Projects are pertinent and questions are essential. They feel excited, intrigued and motivated to solve the puzzles, make new answers and reach insight. Their work feels both important and worthwhile. They make thoughtful choices from a toolkit of strategies, considering carefully which approach, which source and which technique may work best to resolve a particular information challenge. They work with others in a coordinated, planful manner, splitting up the work according to a plan and sharing good ideas during the search for understanding.
 * Responsible for their own learning**
 * Energized by learning**
 * Strategic**
 * Collaborative**

The Planning Process [|Start with the Essential Question] [|Design a Plan for the Project] [|Brainstorm] the Plan with Online Mapping Tools Define Roles and Responsibilities Gather Resources for Students with [|Customized Google Search Engines] Create a Project Schedule & Post Online for Students Monitor the Process and the Progress of Individual Learners [|Assess the Outcome]
 * Planning for PBL:**
 * [|Thirty-Six Interesting Ways To Use Search Engines in the Classroom]

[|New York State] & [|ISTE] Standards Share Experience & Outcomes

Open-ended and resist a simple or single answer Thought-provoking, counter-intuitive, and/or controversial Require students to draw upon content knowledge and personal experience Non-judgmental and succinct Are framed to provoke and sustain student interest Can be revisited throughout the unit to engage students in evolving dialogue and debate Lead to other student-posed essential questions. Are at the heart of the discipline Activity
 * Criteria for Effective Essential Questions**

** Explore & Critique ** Using the key components of PBL and the criteria for developing essential questions, review the three examples of PBL units below. **What strengths do these projects have? What weaknesses?** o Protect. Preserve. Be Proud. Students learn about conservation and the need for preserving open space in their community. o Core Democratic Values LIVE Cross-grade level student teams work together to explore core democratic value of their choice. o Human Footprint Students consider the ecological and environmental impact that humans have had on Earth in this project from National Geographic.

Other PBL units are available on the [|Apple Learning Interchange]  (ALI), an online community of educators. Review an ALI PBL unit and consider how teachers adhere to the key components and essential question criteria.

Project Ideas & Examples <span style="background-color: initial; color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[] <span style="background-color: initial; color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[] <span style="background-color: initial; color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[] <span style="background-color: initial; color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[] <span style="background-color: initial; color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[] <span style="background-color: initial; color: blue; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">[]

[|Using Google Docs to Share Resources] Join the [|LIFE Google community] Preview the Google doc and talk about your ideas for a PBL Form Collaboration unit Enter your basic data and your project topic You will be able to edit and revise your responses at any time Discuss your PBL plans with colleagues
 * Collaborative Project Planning Form**

Information, Communication, Technology (ICT) [|Planning an ICT-Assisted PBL Lesson] A Seven-Step Implementation Process 1. Develop Project Content. 2. Develop Project Goals 3. Develop Teams and Groups - Define Roles and Responsibilities 4. Create and Share Timeline 5. Provide Resources and Materials 6. Build and Share Assessment Tool 7. Reflect, Share and Publish
 * Implementing your own Project-Based Learning Unit**

Create an Online space- Blog:


 * VII Technology In Design**

Explore Below are examples of how [|Web 2.0] tools can be integrated into PBL activities. Explore these projects and think about how you might be able to integrate some of the tools into your PBL Unit. Moving Forward wiki This page contains resources related to K-12 student podcasting. [|Google Earth: Google Lit Trips] Students use Google Earth to explore the geography behind some of the greatest road trips. Wikis: Horizon Project Students are challenged to collaborate with others around the globe to investigate, research, discuss, analyze and evaluate one of the six trends or seven meta trends referred to in the Horizon Report 2008 about social media trends


 * VIII Evaluating your Projects:**

PBL Checklist: <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">To help you start using PBL,view these customizable [|project checklists] for written reports, multimedia projects, oral presentations, and science projects. The use of these checklists keeps students on track and allows them to take responsibility for their own learning through peer- and self-evaluation. <span style="background-color: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Rubistar <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Create customizable rubrics to evaluate your projects.