Whip Blog

Presenters: Jane Krauss / Suzie Boss

NECC: Monday, 11am – 12 noon

This session was from Monday morning…Jane (standing in pic) is an educator and Suzie (seated) is a journalist/author…they are currently writing a book entitled “Reinventing Project-Based Learning: Your Field Guide to Real-World Projects in the Digital Age”, scheduled for release in the fall. This session is designed to introduce the audience to their book and problem-based learning ideas.

I was particularly interested in this presentation as I am one of the 20 or so educators from around the world who are featured in the book…I am not sure why me…but I am honored…it certainly is humbling considering the stature and innovation of the other teachers in the circle.

Below are some notes and ideas from the session. Jane and Suzie have also created a Reinventing PBL blog where they hope to continue the conversations stemming from their book.

++++++++++++++++++++

The room is pretty much full…also Tom Hemingway (Turkey) / Linda Hartley (London?) on skype….

- why reinventing PBL? What needs to change? “reinvigorating”…we know value of PBL…we also know about today’s learners…
- new context for learning in digital age
- new context for teaching with collaboraton and digital tools
- new possibilities for reinvigorating PBL to achieve greater results…

why PBL…what does it have to offer? Relevance?

- real world
- highly motivating
- cross curricular / interdisciplinary
- helps students to connect to future
- authentic, formative, on going assessment
- build a bridge to portfolio
- helps develop emotional intelligence
- extension of material
- meets all learning styles
- fun!
- Application of knowledge
- Authentic engagement
- Deep-learning

Key features – “field guide”

- examples from around the world
- guided instructional design process
- focus on essesntial learning function of digital tools
- suggestions to guide collaborative practice

audience

- capable
- optimists
- learners
- connectors

pbl interacting with technology…

Tom H – Ankara
– working at a school as project manager and coordinator of IB program
– doesn’t distinguish between teachers and students, assume everyone is a “learner”
- “what do we want to leave behind?”, what things should we do in order to reach that goal?”

PBL’s are front end loaded – students become workers / teachers facilitate

Building connections – finding partners important

Celebration and reflection (student and teachers both)

“Google Lit Trips” – Jerome Burg…googlelittrips.com
iHistory Podcasts: David Fagg – used mp3 players
Flat Classroom/Horizon projects – Julie & Vicki

Create lasting artifacts for others to learn from – sharing is important

How to use book?
- on your own
- with colleagues in shared professional learning
- as a guide for PD
- as courseware for teacher education

“Classroom Displays” – flickr…different classrooms –tagged images of what is going on around the world….

“echoes of other peoples displays in new images…idea sharing and eveloping”

flip the equation from “I have this cooll tool, what can I do with it?”= “I have this learning function – what tools helps me do this?”

what can tech help with?
- collaboration
- -teamwork
- -documenting project
- student expression
- communicatuion
- finding salient information
- combining various media

essential components (in appendix A)
- ubiquity
- deep learning
- making things visible & discussable
- expressions, building community
- collaboration (w kids, experts, etc)\
- research tools
- project management
- reflection & iteration
-

book is first step…
- blog
- flickr
- PD

http://reinventingpbl.blogspot.com

Technorati tags: necc07, necc2007, education, technology, n07s606