Project based instruction and the importance of self directed learning

Preparing students for their future What skills do they need to succeed?. Preparing students for their future What skills do they need to succeed?. Preparing students for their future Wh

Project-Based Instruction and the importance of self-directed learning

Oliver Schinkten

Staff Author, LinkedIn + lynda.com

Today’s Goals

1 Address some concerns with education

2 Share a potential solution

3 Discuss tools & resources

4 Allow time for Q&A

Concerns in Education

What is the purpose of school?

Concerns in Education

What is the purpose of school?

?

Interdisciplinary

Students do not see the connections between the different subject areas.

Why are we writing? This isn’t literacy, it’s science.

Why are we

doing math?

This is science!

I think they are serious!

1 What is science?

2 What is literacy?

3 What is math?

4 What is art?

Preparing students for their future

What skills do they need to succeed?

College & Career

Ready

Preparing students for their future

What skills do they need to succeed?

Ready

Preparing students for their future

What skills do they need to succeed?

College & Career

Ready

Preparing students for their future

What skills do they need to succeed?

College & Career

Ready

What about Life-Ready?

Preparing students for their future

What skills do they need to succeed?

Communication & collaboration skills Problem solving skills

Technology skills Know “how to learn”

It is critical for our students

to become self-directed learners.

It is critical for our students

to become self-directed learners.

It is critical for our

students to become

self-directed learners.

Engage students in:

Higher Order Thinking

What is the solution?

Project-Based Instruction and self-directed learning

Project-Based Instruction

doesn’t have to mean:

A charter school or special program

Project-Based Instruction

doesn’t have to mean:

“canned projects”

Project-Based Instruction

key ingredients:

1 Authentic projects Authentic audiences

2 Extend learning beyond the school & school day

3 Collaborate with the community for resources,

opportunities, and expertise

4 Projects demonstrate students’ understanding of

content knowledge

5 Require higher order thinking skills

Project-Based Instruction

key ingredients:

6 Incorporate 21st century skills

7 Equip students with resources

8 Teach skills Don’t assume they have them

9 Foster an inquiry-based classroom

10 Foster a student-centered classroom

Project-Based Instruction

Authentic projects for authentic audiences

Science Club

Project-Based Instruction

Authentic projects for authentic audiences

Science Classes

Project-Based Instruction

Authentic projects for authentic audiences

Communities

Learning with the community, in the community,

in order to make the community a better place.

• Part of the regular high school day

• 75 students

• Science, Literacy, Social Studies, Leadership

• Together for 3 hours

• Responsible for teaching all of the content

Veterans’ Event

Social Studies

Science

Literacy

Leadership

Veterans’ Event

Students will conduct and video record a 1:1

interview with a veteran from World War II, the

Vietnam War, or the Korean War

After conducting the interviews, students will edit their interview video into segments, copy the

video to a DVD to present to their veteran’s family

Veterans’ Event

Meet & greet

Interview

Video-record interview Edit video

Present DVD to family

Veterans’ Event

Authentic Projects

iPads for Autism

Participation Nation - Elections

Green School Initiative

Sustainable Agriculture

Healthy Snack Initiative

Neighborhood Gallery Walk

Water Quality Testing

Alternative Energy Innovations

Project Design

Investigation Phase

Workshops Lessons Guest Speakers

Interviews Research Surveys Books Articles Etc…

Project Design

Prepare & Plan Phase

How does this project relate to the content? What does “success” look like?

What resources will we need?

What roles will be necessary?

Who are potential community partners?

Project Pitch

Project Design

Action Phase

Connect with community partners Assess timeline & progress

Share group updates

Document learning & progress

Promote project

Tools & Resources

Buck Institute

bie.org

Youth Changing the World

ysa.org

Lynda.com

Determine the game-changers from the gimmicky gadgets.

Role of Educators

TECHNOLOGY

Learning Management Systems

Canvas Moodle Google Classroom

Edmodo Blackboard Schoology

Edmodo

Google Drive

Adobe Apps for Education

Audacity: audio editing

Camtasia: video editing

Blogger

How are we supposed to learn about all of these

different technology tools that we can use?

How are we supposed to learn about all of these

different technology tools that we can use?

IMPOSSIB

LE

Why would you have to learn all of them?

EMPOWER STUDENTS TO LEARN!

Ultimate Challenge

Challenge Checklist:

_ Throw away the cookie cutters Embrace teacher diversity

_ Provide more autonomy in your teachers’ professional development _ Find resources to help your teachers learn

Administrator

Ultimate Challenge

Challenge Checklist:

_ Find authentic projects with authentic audiences to engage students _ Engage students in higher order thinking

_ Teach important 21st century skills

_ Find technology that maximizes student learning

_ Never stop learning!

Educator

Oliver Schinkten

Staff Author, LinkedIn + lynda.com

Thank you for participating!

Let’s connect!

email: oschinkten@linkedin.com

Twitter: @schink10