Dorie Glynn’s Blog

posted by Dorie on Apr 24

On your blog, explain the critical organization and management steps and tools you would need to employ when implementing a PBL experience for the grade level / subject you teach. Be specific to digital tools you and your students would use and how they would be used.

1. Orient students to the goals of the project.

I would create a wikispace for the project.  I would show the students the rubric that I will use to evaluate their work, so they can refer back to it during the project to see if they are on task.

2. Group students appropriately.

I would probably group somewhat by ability.

3. Organize the project on a daily basis by continually defining the scope of inquiry, the study tasks, and the potential routes to solving the problem or answering the Driving Question.

I think the wiki might be a good place for this.  Maybe each group could have a page and post discussion questions related to the driving question. I would also post links that my students could safely search for information.  A webquest format might be good for second graders, because it would give them a step by step plan.  The key would be to to keep it as open-ended as possible.

4. Clarify everything.

I would walk around and monitor the groups asking questions to find out what they are thinking.

5.  Monitor and regulate student behavior.

Behavior will regulate itself somewhat if I am walking around monitoring and talking with students.  I will redirect students as needed.

6.  Manage the workflow.

I will monitor the students work and make sure that one student is not doing all of the work.

7.  Evaluate the success of the project and help student recognize what has been learned–and what has not been learned–as a result of the project.

I will use the rubric and student interviews to understand what has been learned during the project.

posted by Dorie on Apr 13

Students can use communication, collaboration, and publishing Web 2.0 applications to meet the NETS-S. (National Educational Technology Standards) For those younger than 13 years of age, they will have to focus on mainly the use of Diigo, Edmodo, WiZiQ, Wikispaces, and Voicethread (use teachers’ account).

Nets for students 2007

posted by Dorie on Mar 22

Why Project Based Learning?

     Have you ever heard a teacher say, “I have taught them…but they still aren’t getting it”? Project Based Learning may just be the solution to that problem. PBL has some of the best teaching practices incorporated that help learners be successful such as constructivism, multiple intelligences, real-world application, and collaboration.

     PBL has a constructivist feel to it. Students use their experiences to make meaning and knowledge. Students are “engaged” in the learning process, instead of being “taught” the information.

     PBL has the potential to reach each learner’s “multiple intelligence”, depending on where the project takes him or her or how the teacher designs the project. Students may take on the role or part of the project that best suites their learning style.

     PBL motivates students to come to school to learn because students are investigating real-world issues. Students are able to make meaning out of what they are learning and will be able to apply what they learned in future situations.

     PBL usually has aspects of collaboration between students. Knowing how to work together is an essential skill in the workplace for the 21st century learner as well as working on a project. Students need to practice working together.

     PBL meets the needs of learners in many ways. The learning that takes place in the classroom is deep learning instead of just on the surface. Students are able to apply what they learned to other situations.

posted by Dorie on Mar 15

Click on the link below to go the page that will take you to the pdf file.  Please click on the link to see the file. Thanks!

project-based-learning-similarities-and-differences1