From the gloom on students’ faces, you would have never known that outside the sun was shining and the birds were singing. It was to be indoor recess yet again. Rain had caused groundwater to rise to the surface, creating waterlogged conditions around the school. The drainage issue not only affected students’ use of the playground, it threatened trees and shrubs that were not adapted to growing in water saturated soils. We had a very real problem on our hands.
The goal of our project-based learning (PBL) unit was clear—to develop a sustainable watershed that will reduce storm water from standing on school grounds. The project embraced all of the Essential Project Design Elements developed by the Buck Institute for Education. The element that I continued coming back to during my design of the project was “Sustained Inquiry.” If students were to deliver results, they would need to seek information beyond the traditional sources. Collaboration
Seek Support
Here are five suggestions of members for your PBL Support Team. While the categories may remain the same for each project, the specific individuals and organizations may change. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it is a great place to start. Learning Community
Resource Teachers
Local Organizations
Parents and Guardians
PBL is a collaborative effort that extends beyond student-led groups. Outside of the classroom walls, support awaits. Colleagues in your district, individuals in the community, and families at home want to help students succeed. As you identify learning goals, determine a topic, and plan instruction, involve your PBL Support Team. With their help, your PBL classroom will blossom. |
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August 2019
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