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From “Ow” to “WOW!” Motivate Students through Project-based Learning
Kathleen Kopp Teacher on Special Assignment, Citrus County Schools Author and Presenter: Maupin House Publishing Christian Educator’s Convention 2011 Conference “Passing the Baton”
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Today’s agenda Rationale: Why use project-based learning strategies?
Examples of creative, fun, and engaging projects students can use to demonstrate/apply learning in the content areas Jazz up your student reports! Assessment as a critical component of project-based learning Simple steps for getting started Resources
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Why Teach with Project-Based Learning?
Dynamic approach to teaching Authentic learning opportunities Interdisciplinary Emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving, and communication: 21st century skills Students explore real-world problems and challenges Active learning Engaging Motivates students to find out more about a given topic Gives students a reason to learn and apply learned skills and information
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What would YOU rather do?
Your principal has assigned your team to read an article related to homework practices. She asks for some evidence of learning. This will be part of your overall year-end appraisal. Would you rather… Write a summary of the article Create a Power Point of key points from the article Write a narrative which includes examples of best homework practices described in the text Create a poster to explain best practices with regard to homework with real examples of homework assignments Interview other teachers regarding their homework practices and compare their ideas with those in the article Keep a journal of your own homework assignments throughout the year and analyze how they are aligned with the ideas in the article Other
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Project-based Learning in the Classroom
Simulations Investigations STEM activities Building or constructing models Writing Projects Collaborative Projects Problems Prompts WebQuests or other online activities
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CloZe Activities, learning projects
Writing Projects CloZe Activities, learning projects
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Vocabulary Stories Have students write an original summary or story using all their vocabulary words from the unit. Collect the students’ work. Use it to evaluate their learning.
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Check understanding with a cloze
Write a class summary or story using all the vocabulary words from a reading selection or unit of study. Type it using a word processing program. Insert blank lines (_____________) for each vocabulary term. Provide copies of the cloze student activity sheet and terms. Have students complete this activity to assess their understanding of the vocabulary presented in the reading selection or unit of study.
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Sample cloze There once was a __________________ named John. He felt left out of the __________________ group because only two of his four sides were parallel . All the other __________________ had two pairs of parallel lines. Gina was the meanest. She thought she was perfect because she not only had two pairs of parallel lines, but all her sides were equal, and all her angles were right angles, too! Secretly, all the other __________________ called her ___________________. Fred was a __________________. He was kind of like Gina because he had two pairs of parallel lines and all four right angles, but only his opposite sides were equal lengths. Then there was Sarah, the __________________. She was very proud of her two pairs of parallel lines, but she did not have right angles. She thought her beauty shined like a diamond! square quadrilateral rhombus rectangle trapezoid
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Learning Projects Animals
If this animal opened a restaurant, what would it be like? Develop a menu of appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Illustrate and describe the setting for the restaurant, and explain where other animals of this kind can go to experience a GREAT meal.
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Learning Projects States
Someone from long ago has suddenly found himself or herself in today’s society. Write one week’s worth of journal entries from this person’s perspective. Describe the most astounding differences between then and now related to your state.
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Learning Projects Historic People
The “People Channel” wants to do a show about this famous person. Develop three or more scenes or segments for the show. Each scene should highlight an important event in this person’s life.
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Sample list of Student summaries or Stories
Anecdotes Articles Biographies Book jackets Book reviews Brochures Diaries Fairy Tales Folktales Ghost stories Interviews Legends Letters Mysteries Plays Postcards Proposals Reviews Science fiction stories Speeches Summaries Tall tales Travelogues Tributes
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TERMS Try This! colonist Puritan proprietors cash crop settlement
pilgrim covenant Begin a graphic novel about the Colonial period. Include all seven vocabulary words in your narrative. Write a ghost story that takes place during Colonial times. Include all seven vocabulary words in your narrative. Write a Colonial town tour script as if you were a tour guide leading visitors through a living history museum. Use all seven words in your description of the town.
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Writing Project Resources
Lots of great authentic writing project ideas in the Learning through Writing Series (Maupin House Publishing, Inc.) Award-winning Series!
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Writing Project Resources
End chapters of Strategies for Writing in the Science Classroom and Strategies for Writing in the Social Studies Classroom Try them a la carte!
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Simulations Role Playing Interpersonal Activities
“Taking a trip to Canada” Oregon Trail Crossing the Delaware Interpersonal Activities “Bafá, Bafá” Don’t forget to have students write about their experience!
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Investigations “How Much?” Applied Sciences
What is the ratio of peanut butter to chocolate in Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups? What is the ratio of sunflower seeds to other seeds in a bag of birdseed? What is the total dollar value of a shopping cart full of crushed aluminum cans? Applied Sciences How does a pinecone reflect an ecosystem? Nature trail observations Interactive play: reflection, refraction, absorption Don’t forget to have students write about their experience!
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STEM: sciencespot.net Problem/solution-based Structured Reflective
Collaborative “Rolling On”: Your friend challenges you to move a ball in a continuous circle. He claims that this will not happen without an outside force acting on it. You accept your friend’s challenge. You are confident this will be easy! Identify the problem Test the prototype Do research Evaluate your device Develop two or three plans Evaluate and redesign Choose on plan Communicate results Design and construct a prototype
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STEM: sciencespot.net People have wanted to build taller and stronger structures for centuries. What is the tallest free-standing structure you can build using straws and pipe cleaners? Hypothesis Plan Construct Revise plan Conclude shop.pitsco.com/activities/ Don’t forget to have students write about their experience!
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Collaborative Projects
Make a board game “Brick or Break: The Cold War Game” Math games Science trivia Learning posters
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Collaborative Project: Board Game
Understands how post-World War II reconstruction occurred, new international power relations took shape, and colonial empires broke up. Understands how the Cold War and conflicts in Korea and Vietnam influenced domestic and international politics. Board Game Cover Accessible at:
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Collaborative Project: Learning Posters
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Technology Projects WebQuests or Online Activities Prezi
Down the Drain Prezi Desktop Publishing Podcasts Websites Interactive Activities Blogs
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Why NOT Project-based Learning?
Time, time, time… Prep work Assessment and evaluation challenges Non-traditional Hard to document mastery of skills
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How To make Projects count
Decide on the objectives of the lesson. Determine a suitable format/project matched to the objectives. Determine how the learning objectives will be assessed. Determine how the project will be evaluated. Set reasonable expectations. Include students in these decisions. Set reasonable timelines. Plan class time to check in with students.
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Example Unit Objective: “Determine the impact of key figures from Ancient Mesopotamian civilizations.” SS.6.W.2.8 Historic People The “People Channel” wants to do a show about key figures from Ancient Mesopotamia. Develop three or more scenes or segments for the show. Each scene should highlight an important event from the Mesopotamian civilization.
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Assessment rating scale
Criteria Not There 1 Attempted 2 Limited 3 Good 4 Exemplary Facts Information Impact on Civilization 3 Accurate Scenes Dialogue Entertainment Value Grammar Spelling Punctuation TOTAL: _______ / 28 Comments:
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Assessment rating scale
Criteria Points Possible Points Earned Accuracy of facts and information 20 Descriptions of impact on civilization Word choice Scene development 10 Use of dialogue to tell a story Engagement of audience Correctness of grammar, spelling, and punctuation TOTAL 100
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Assessment rating scale: Colonial America
Criteria Points Possible Points Earned Effective and appropriate use of seven terms 35 Format is appropriate for content 20 Accuracy of facts and information related to the Colonial period Clear beginning, middle, and end or text structure 10 Correctness of grammar, spelling, and punctuation Engagement of audience 5 TOTAL 100
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Tips for Success Plan adequate class time. Inform parents of project:
Objectives and expectations Deadlines Evaluation criteria Call for help Make projects directly related to content area skills and information. Remember to include writing skills in evaluation criteria! (ELA teachers can help with this.) Develop and share evaluation criteria ahead of time.
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Don’t delay! Use projects today!
Project-based learning allow students to internalize their learning. Project-based learning helps students apply essential vocabulary. Project-based learning allows students to use the content they are learning in an authentic context. Projects are an effective summative assessment strategy when done well. Projects can be used to assess student learning of any subject matter. They should include clear, measurable expectations. (And, students should know these expectations ahead of time.)
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Project-Based learning 3-2-1 summary
List 3 reasons to use project-based learning with students. List 2 examples of project-based learning ideas. Write 1project-based learning idea you can use in your classroom before the end of the semester.
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Thank you for spending time with me!
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