Have you considered doing more project-based learning in your classroom but have concerns
about planning projects properly, using class time wisely, and teaching standards effectively?
With these concerns in mind, Michelle Koski and I attended a PBL Design Camp at High Tech High
in San Diego, and here are some highlights of what we learned:
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Planning projects can be time-consuming but is doable and worth it.
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Yes, you can have traditional standards-based teaching with PBL, and you should!
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There is no “right” way to begin or plan a project.
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Ask students for their feedback, not just after the project but before and during the project as well.
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Students are PROUD of their work (not their grade).
Voice, Choice and Ownership in PBL! So, how does that happen?
At High Tech High’s PBL Design Camp, middle and high school educators from all over the country came together, each with the spark of an idea for a project. By working with their school partners and hearing critique from other camp participants, they were able to develop a project that suited the needs of their students and their teachers.
Michelle and I are two such participants who have benefitted from the PBL design process. The idea for our cross-curricular project came while discussing two independent projects we do for our students. My Dystopian Fiction students write dystopian scenes that focus on world building, character development and action sequences. Michelle’s Costume and Fashion Design students create costumes for plays based on fashion trends. For our project, we have decided to combine the two and have Michelle’s students design costumes for my students’ writing. My writer’s will pitch their story ideas to her designers who will choose a partner to work with. The partners will meet regularly during the design phase of the costumes to work on revisions of both the writing and the costumes.
We plan to conduct this project during fourth quarter. Here is what we hope to gain in terms of learning outcomes:
- Both classes will learn the process of critique and revision
- As writers, Dystopian Fiction students will learn to clearly communicate their vision with sensory imagery and vivid language.
- As designers, Costume and Fashion Design students will learn to collaborate and communicate with a “client” in order to create a product that reflects more than the artist’s vision.
Stay tuned for the results of our project…
Jenny – This sounds like a great project. Students in both classes have something very real to accomplish. I expect it will be a big hit with the students.
PBL and student choice are powerful learning tools.They engage students in projects that will be remembered and will provide true learning benefits. Let us know how it works out.
I cannot wait to hear how this goes! I love this idea.
This is so fantastic! And you've inspired me to jump into PBL right now! (I'm actually serious) I can't wait to see how this turns out! There should be a fashion show or a short film featuring the costumes and a story that audience voted on.
This is so awesome. Please let's have a fashion show and/or display of this project!
Yes, there will be a fashion show during Winton Arts Festival! We will include blurbs about the stories, too.
Yes, during Winton Arts, of course!
This is awesome! I can't wait to see what the students create!
Wow, you have a little salesperson in you! that is awesome, cant wait
This is such a great natural collaboration. Sometimes collaborations can feel forced, which stifles the creative process. There are so many different ways for us to find intersections between our curriculum, and I think your project will inspire others!
Jenny, this is so cool! I love this idea. I look forward to hearing all about how everything turned out in the upcoming 4th quarter. This sounds like a project student will enjoy and learn so much from.