All grades
Project
6 weeks
"PBL Quest: Real-World Learning Adventures"
Self Directed Learning
Academic Mindset
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
1-pager
Purpose
This professional learning experience aims to empower secondary teachers to design and implement transformative PBL units that are standards-aligned and deeply connected to real-world contexts. By engaging with community partners and leveraging local resources, teachers will collaboratively develop innovative approaches that enhance student engagement and learning. The series fosters a supportive community of practice, emphasizing critical thinking, self-directed learning, and academic mindset, culminating in a showcase of PBL units that address authentic industry challenges and opportunities.
Learning goals
This professional learning experience aims to equip secondary teachers with the skills to design standards-aligned PBL units that deeply engage students and connect learning to real-world contexts. Teachers will develop competencies in self-directed learning, academic mindset, and critical thinking by leveraging community partnerships and addressing authentic industry challenges. The series culminates in a showcase of transformative PBL units, demonstrating teachers' ability to foster student engagement and learning through innovative, community-relevant approaches.
Competencies
- Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
- Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
- Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
Products
Throughout this learning experience, teachers will collaboratively design and develop standards-aligned PBL unit plans that incorporate real-world community challenges. By the end of the series, each participant will have crafted a comprehensive PBL unit, including detailed lesson sequences, authentic assessments, and strategies for student engagement. These units will be showcased in a culminating event, where teachers present their work to community partners and peers, receiving valuable feedback and insights to refine their approach.
Launch
Begin the series with a dynamic community immersion experience where teachers visit local businesses and organizations to identify real-world challenges. Facilitate a collaborative brainstorming session where teachers map out potential PBL unit ideas based on these insights. Organize a panel discussion with community leaders to further explore pressing local issues and inspire innovative solutions. Encourage teachers to reflect on their observations and insights, setting the stage for designing impactful PBL units that resonate with students and the community.
Exhibition
At the culmination of this professional learning experience, teachers will present their PBL units in a community showcase event. Each unit will be displayed alongside student work samples and reflections, highlighting the real-world impact and community connections fostered through the project. Community partners, including local businesses, leaders, and universities, will be invited to provide feedback and celebrate the innovative approaches developed by teachers. This exhibition will serve as a platform for sharing insights, fostering collaboration, and inspiring further engagement with PBL in the community.
Plan
| Week 1 |
Day 1
|
|---|---|
| Activities |
Community Immersion - Visit local organizations to identify real-world challenges and opportunities, setting the stage for PBL unit development (60 min)
Insight Sharing - Gather as a group to share insights and brainstorm initial ideas for PBL units, fostering collaborative design and community engagement (60 min)
|
| Deliverables |
1. Community Immersion Reflection Journal: Teachers will document their observations, insights, and potential real-world issues identified during the community immersion experience.
2. Initial PBL Unit Ideas: Teachers will submit a brainstorm document outlining potential PBL unit topics, essential questions, and relevant community partners identified during the immersion day. |
| Preparation |
1. Arrange a Community Immersion Day by coordinating visits to local organizations, businesses, and community centers for teachers to explore real-world challenges.
2. Develop a structured reflection journal template to guide teachers in documenting their observations and insights during the immersion day. 3. Prepare a brainstorming workshop space with materials such as chart paper, markers, and post-it notes for teachers to collaboratively develop initial PBL unit ideas. 4. Create an online collaboration platform where teachers can share their initial PBL unit ideas and receive feedback from peers and community partners. 5. Compile a list of local community organizations and leaders who can act as potential partners and resources for teachers during the PBL unit development. |
| Week 2 |
Day 2
|
|---|---|
| Activities |
Community Resource Mapping - Collaboratively identify local community resources and partnerships that can enhance PBL units, focusing on relevance and real-world connections (30 min)
Essential Question Workshop - Develop and refine essential questions that will drive the PBL units, ensuring they are authentic and connect to community issues (30 min)
Peer Feedback Session - Share essential questions with peers and provide constructive feedback to ensure alignment with project goals and community relevance (20 min)
Reflection Circle - Reflect on the insights gained from community mapping and question development, documenting thoughts in reflective journals (20 min)
|
| Deliverables |
1. Draft of essential questions and potential real-world challenges for PBL units.
2. List of community partners and resources identified for collaboration. 3. Initial outline of PBL unit structure with goals and objectives. |
| Preparation |
1. Compile a resource guide with examples of successful PBL units and real-world issue ideas.
2. Contact community organizations, businesses, and local leaders to arrange potential partnerships for PBL units. 3. Prepare a workspace with materials for collaborative brainstorming sessions, including chart paper, markers, and sticky notes. 4. Set up a digital platform for sharing unit drafts and receiving feedback from peers. |
| Week 3 |
Day 3
|
|---|---|
| Activities |
Community Resource Mapping - Collaborate in small groups to identify local community resources and partnerships that can enhance PBL unit relevance (30 min)
Essential Question Refinement - Refine essential questions for PBL units, ensuring they align with community resources and student interests (40 min)
Peer Feedback Session - Share refined essential questions with peers for feedback, focusing on alignment with community impact and student engagement (50 min)
|
| Deliverables |
1. Refined essential questions that integrate community insights.
2. Drafted learning outcomes aligned with academic standards. 3. A comprehensive assessment plan with both formative and summative assessments. |
| Preparation |
1. Schedule meetings with community partners and finalize collaboration details.
2. Prepare materials and resources for essential question development workshops. 3. Develop templates for drafting learning outcomes and assessment plans. 4. Organize and facilitate the peer feedback session, including feedback rubrics. 5. Provide reflection prompts and journaling materials for reflective practice. |
| Week 4 |
Day 4
|
|---|---|
| Activities |
Review and Reflect - Begin with a peer feedback circle where teachers share updates on their PBL units and receive constructive criticism, enhancing critical reflection and community support (30 min)
Essential Question Refinement - Collaboratively refine essential questions to ensure alignment with real-world challenges and academic standards, fostering critical thinking and relevance (40 min)
Community Partner Panel - Engage with local community leaders in a panel discussion to gain insights and feedback on PBL unit ideas, emphasizing community impact and partnerships (50 min)
|
| Deliverables |
1. Revised PBL unit draft incorporating peer and community partner feedback.
2. Draft assessment tools aligned with the PBL unit and designed to measure student understanding authentically. |
| Preparation |
1. Set up digital platform for sharing PBL drafts and receiving feedback.
2. Organize small peer review groups and schedule review sessions. 3. Coordinate with community partners for meetings or site visits. 4. Provide a structured feedback rubric for peer review sessions. 5. Gather resources and examples of authentic assessment tools for reference. |
| Week 5 |
Day 5
|
|---|---|
| Activities |
Community Panel Discussion - Organize a virtual panel with local community leaders to gather feedback on PBL unit drafts, emphasizing community relevance and impact (50 min)
Reflection and Iteration - Reflect on panel feedback and iterate on PBL unit designs, focusing on enhancing community connections and student engagement (70 min)
|
| Deliverables |
1. Finalized essential questions and assessments aligned with academic standards and community relevance.
2. Revised PBL unit drafts incorporating feedback from community partners and peer observations. 3. Reflective journal entries documenting the design process, challenges, and insights gained from peer feedback and observations. |
| Preparation |
1. Prepare a digital platform for sharing PBL unit drafts and receiving feedback.
2. Coordinate with community partners to organize the panel discussion and secure their participation. 3. Develop a structured feedback rubric for peer critique sessions. 4. Arrange logistics for peer observation sessions, including scheduling and classroom access. 5. Provide materials for reflective journaling, such as notebooks or digital journaling tools. |
| Week 6 |
Day 6
|
|---|---|
| Activities |
Final Peer Review Session - Teachers present their completed PBL units to peers for final feedback, focusing on alignment with essential questions and community impact (40 min)
Reflection and Revision - Reflect on feedback received and make necessary revisions to PBL units, ensuring they meet learning targets and community relevance (40 min)
Showcase Preparation - Begin preparing materials and presentations for the upcoming PBL Symposium, ensuring clarity and engagement (40 min)
|
| Deliverables |
1. Finalized PBL unit plan ready for classroom implementation.
2. Digital storytelling project capturing the PBL unit's evolution and impact. 3. Reflective journal documenting experiences, insights, and plans for future application. |
| Preparation |
1. Ensure all necessary technology is available for presentations and digital storytelling projects.
2. Prepare feedback rubrics for peer review sessions. 3. Coordinate with community partners to arrange final workshop and panel discussion logistics. 4. Set up a space for reflective journaling and ensure materials are available. |