Project Based Learning and Authentic Audiences By Tara Heade and Meghan Keener

What is project based learning? It is defined by the Buck Institute for Education as, "a systematic teaching method that engages students in learning essential knowledge and life- enhancing skills through an extended, student-influenced inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and tasks." What does that mean? Project Based Learning isn't just kids "doing" projects It Is Students... o students working together toward a common goal o learning how to work with others o learning about the content o reflecting about their opinions, ideas, and contributions. In short Project Based Learning is a fun way for kids to learn 21st century skills while getting through the curriculum.

What is needed to be PBL? The Students... are given freedom within a framework must be given a problem or challenge need to create a plan to reach a solution will gather and arrange information will have to reflect often about the project must have a product that can be evaluated & shared Finally the Teacher needs to create a safe atmosphere that tolerates error

Visual explanation of PBL

In the Classroom PBL can be used for grades K-12 It can be used in any subject PBL works with all different learning styles PBL encourages diversity and community Many teachers already use PBL and don't know it Technology has created more meaningful opportunities for PBL PBL's can incorporate numerous standards

Useful PBL sites RubiStarRubiStar - Rubric maker, templates included PBLonlinePBLonline -Guidelines for PBL EdutopiaEdutopia - Browse examples of how to incorporate projects in the classroom PBLchecklistPBLchecklist - Create checklists for your students so they know what they need, much like RubiStar

Useful PBL sites cont. Lesson PlanetLesson Planet - Teacher reviewed lesson plans Kids EducationKids Education - Reviews of K-12 interactive games and websites Star Schools (pdf) Star Schools (pdf) - A quick guide to creating PBL plans

What is an authentic audience? “21st Century educators don’t say ‘hand it in’; they say ‘publish it’.” - Lisa Nielsen When a student posts or publishes their work on a website that anyone can see on the internet o i.e. blogs, wikis, podcasts The authentic audience is more than just the teacher or other classmates Real life people can read, comment, or constructively criticize a student's work.

Benefits of an Authentic Audience Gives students confidence about their work because other people can see and appreciate it Better work quality lets students expand on their use of web 2.0 opens up learning for more creativity allows for special talents among students to be noticed gets real life opinions and criticisms

Where to get an Authentic Audience Facebook Edublogs Wikipedia Podcasts Youtube iTunes Yelp COUNTLESS others

Ways to use an Authentic Audience use private usernames to assure anonimity on highly public sites publish work on Facebook so people close to student can see their work use discussion boards to let students and other viewers talk about work blog reviews on art or books that interest your students use video conferencing to share students work and ideas with other classrooms around the country/world have students research and post findings on Wikipedia

Real Life Success Story ayer_embedded 5th grade students in New York City were posted to Youtube and went viral...now famous!

Sources Project Based Learning: Authentic Audiences: audience-and-a-compelling-use-of-facebook/ audience-and-a-compelling-use-of-facebook/ authentic-audience/ authentic-audience/ write-for-an-authentic-audience/