Exploring Project Based Learning (PBL)

Exploring Project Based Learning (PBL)

 

According to Edutopia, PBL is a "dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges." (https://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning ) .  What exactly does that mean?

Basically, it means that we as instructors are giving students the knowledge, tools and skills to solve practical problems and enhance their own capabilities.  We are providing them with real-world, real-time information and challenges which they can relate to in an effort to have them increase their intellectual and physical skills.  And we are doing so in a way that they can relate to and view as a worthwhile cause, as opposed to just another lesson.

The three examples which we were asked to compare included an elementary school in Virginia

Happy Worm:  https://freeclipartspot.com

which had students studying animal behavior through the use of worms and investigating Cystic Fibrosis (http://www.edutopia.org/more-fun-barrel-worms ), a high school in Washington where geometry students put their mathematical skills to use in architecturally designing a new school (http://www.edutopia.org/geometry-real-world-students-architects ), and another elementary school in Maryland which used the migration and life of the monarch butterfly to explore scientific and cultural diversity throughout Mexico and the United States (http://www.edutopia.org/march-monarchs ).

Project similarities:

          Each of these examples brought real-world, hands-on problems to the attention of the students, and had them solve those problems to the best of their abilities, while developing a skill set of group participation and work ethics.  Basically, the projects gave the students the sense that what they were learning was actually something useful outside of the classroom, and this gave the students a real sense of authenticity to their projects.  Also, by working in groups, it allowed the students to see that not everyone has the same idea, and that sometimes "thinking out of the box" can create the best solutions, when tempered with the constraints placed upon the project in its requirements

Another similarity between each of these projects was one of the process to solution.  Students were provided with the problem, then were given the opportunity and encouraged to question what exactly needed to be done, then answer those questions in their own level of thinking, thus making the project more relevant to themselves and their interests. The students would then research, take field trips, explore online and meet with real life experts in the field they were looking at.  They then had to develop a way to present the information, both as a static display and in personal presentation format.        

Teacher and Student:

          The roles of the teacher and the student were often intermixed within each of these projects.  The teacher was as often as not learning the information presented by the professionals and the research of the student at the same time as the students themselves.  Both the teacher and the students also act as facilitators to the project, although on different levels.  The teacher controls the overall development and progress of the project, guiding the students towards their final conclusions and keeping the students focused on their task, while the students facilitate their own learning goals and objectives, based upon their interests and individual goals.  By giving the students the opportunity to define and set their own goals, the teacher is facilitating their growth, and giving them both memorable expierences and the right to say "this is mine".

BIE Gold Standard

          The Buck Institute for Education (BIE) Gold Standards for PBL (http://bie.org/blog/gold_standard_pbl_essential_project_design_elements) include the following:

• Key Knowledge, Understanding and Success 
• Skills
• Challenging Problems or Questions
• Sustained Inquiry
• Authenticity / Real World Context
• Student Voice & Choice
• Reflection
• Critique and Revision 
• Public Product (http://bie.org/about/what_pbl)

 Each of these criteria were covered extensively within the projects described.  Students were given or had to research for knowledge and understanding.  The problems which they wee given or chose for themselves were of a level that were challenging even to the professionals which were brought in to assist.  The students asked their own questions, researched for new resources and applied that information to the problems at hand.  The projects, as discussed above, were all real-world, hands-on projects that could not only make a difference in the lives of others, but were of an interest to the students themselves.  The students made many of the decisions regarding the project themselves, within the parameters provided.  They discussed the effectiveness of their solutions, and felt free to critique others both within the class as well as within their group as to what was good and bad.  Finally, they each created a public display, including a live presentation detailing their findings.  

Resources:

"More Fun Than a Barrel of . . . Worms?!" - Diane Curtis, Edutopia
http://www.edutopia.org/more-fun-barrel-worms

"Geometry Students Angle into Architecture Through Project Learning" - Sara Armstrong, Edutopia
http://www.edutopia.org/geometry-real-world-students-architects

"March of the Monarchs: Students Follow the Butterflies' Migration"
- Diane Curtis, Edutopia
http://www.edutopia.org/march-monarchs 

Buck Institute (BIE) PBL Gold Standards - Article
http://bie.org/blog/gold_standard_pbl_essential_project_design_elements

Inquiry Based Learning:

Not Quite Final Thoughts...

 

The key to Inquiry Based Learning (IBL), basically, is to allow students to learn from their mistakes, then adapt their work and advance from there.  It is a formative based instruction where students are evaluated more on personal growth and achievement then a strict regiment of specific questioning.

In essence, IBL is more of a hands-on format which allows people to explore while meeting specific criteria for advancement.  It is the antithesis to today's standardized testing formats, in that, while there are specific items that a student must know and acknowledge, the students also have the freedom to expand that knowledge into areas which interest them as opposed to being restricted in what they can learn.

In addition to being more of a hands-on format, IBL also helps students understand why the information which they are investigating is important, and how it will be viable as a skill outside of the classroom. 

IBL is bringing back into the classroom what has been ostracized for the past few decades:  the development of a students' ability not only to memorize information and take a test, but to think for themselves, analyze information, problem solve and be creative.  All of these attributes have basically been driven from the classroom as a result of standardization and common core practices.  This process (IBL) helps to bring these features back into the classroom while developing the necessary knowledge needed to take and pass the required written examinations.

As I have mentioned before, many of my units, with only some minor adjustments, will fall into the IBL format.  

With my Architecture and Engineering classes, they will be easy enough to adapt to allow students to explore aspects of each that they are interested in, while maintaining a steady rate of advancement in knowledge and skills.  Letting the students choose their own house designs, or their own animated mechanical system is a way to both keep the students engaged, as well as letting them explore.

Much of my robotics program is already in an IBL format, or close to it, as they have to design and construct robots to solve problems.  Adding in journals or having them create instruction manuals or presentations will only reinforce this process.

Beginning this fall, I am adding in a CTE aspect to the engineering curriculum:  I will be instructing in CAD, 3D printing and laser cutting, as well as avionics and control systems with the ultimate goal of having students develop and construct their own drone system.  That's right:  students will design, build and fly their own drones!  With each of these programs, I will be extending the use of rubrics, adding in an online journal requirement, and utilizing a daily KWL chart and electronic poll / question system to gauge student progress.  I am also planning on having students take a more active role in developing procedures, manuals and information packets (or links) that will be available for future student use.

One last comment...
I mentioned in the title that these are not quite final thoughts.  That is because IBL has no real final thoughts.  If conducted properly, it should be ever expanding, growing in adaptation to current technologies, while instructing in what is already in use.  If the program does not evolve, adapt and grow, it will stagnate and fall to the wayside. 

Week 6 Thoughts: The Development of the 5E's

The Development of the 5E's

Over the past week, with the exploration of the 5E's, the conversion of lessons from traditional 

introduction / body / conclusion to that of the 5E format, I have come to realize that many of the lessons which I have developed over the past many years actually fit into this format.

While much of what we have done over the past week depicts the 5E system as a series of "stages", and almost always shows things in a linear format, I would argue that this is done more for the purpose of study than actual use. 

The "stage" of Evaluate should not be an actual stage, but one of constant and continuous incorporation. 

In addition, each of the "stages" should not necessarily stand alone, but should collaborate with one another throughout the lesson in order to be most effective.

The incorporation of the 5E system of instruction is a perfect fit into the Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) format, as it allows the students to expand their own knowledge into areas that interest them while observing and evaluating, as opposed to dictating information for the sake of information only.

Just the Facts, Ma'am...

Detective Sergeant Joe Friday, portrayed by Jack Webb

Probably the largest gain that I have had over the last week or so has been the discernment between fact and concept.

All insects have six legs.

The earth revolves around the sun.

The area of a circle is

πr squared.

Wait a minute, is the last one a concept or a fact?  Makes you want to stop and think about everything that we have been teaching, eh?

 One of the most important things that I have learned over the last two weeks is to look at the questions that I am asking, and determine whether or not they are investigable or non-investigable.  In the field of robotics, engineering and architecture, I felt that it was hard to come up with non-investigable questions, but that is not the case.  I came to realize that by the end of the courses, the questions might be investigable, or factual, based upon the information which was discerned throughout the class, but at the beginning, they were non-investigable, concept-based questions.

I guess that my big question now is, do I continue in this format, working from concept to fact, or do I work more along the lines of fact from the beginning?

I think that one of the things that I like best about the courses within this program in the diversity of the software and apps that we are exposed to.  So often  in reading the posts of the various classmates, I am introduced to apps that are not mentioned in the curriculum itself.  I absolutely love this, and wish that I had more time to work and explore many of the apps discussed.  Unfortunately, time doesn't stand still for anyone, and being able to explore is not always an option.  I was actually hoping to "Blabberize" Sergeant Joe on this page, and have him saying "Just the fact, Ma'am", but the site has been listed as "overloaded" for the past few days, so a picture will have to do.

I think that is the other thing that we need to look at.  

Though it is wonderful to have access to all of these apps and be able to use them, complete reliance on them is not wise.  Be prepared to do other activities, because technology doesn't always work the way that you want...

ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS INTO

INQUIRY BASED LEARNING

As noted in my previous posting, when I first began looking at Inquiry Based Learning (IBL), I compared it to Project Based Learning (PBL) and considered it to be a process suited more for advanced level projects.  With the advancement through the learning process of this program, I am coming to realize that IBL can be incorporated into early levels of education, provided that there is enough of a foundation of student knowledge established and that there is a suitable level of control and respect for the instructor and the class.

In comparison to a PBL format, which is highly structured and designed to meet a set goal with provided levels of learning throughout, IBL can be more spontaneous in its formats, with the learner able to branch off with new discoveries and ideas as they develop their knowledge base.  This provides more flexibility for the student, as they are investigating what interests them, while at the same time reaching for goals provided by the instructor.

One of the greatest insights which I have gained this week would have to be from the reflection part of the video The Physics of Optics (http://www.learner.org/vod/vod_window.html?pid=1414).  At marker 47:20, the presenter made the comment that doing inquiry is much like painting a picture - there is no right or wrong way to do it - it is all based on the instructor.  

Also, his quote:
"If you value the learning, you are probably doing inquiry.  If you value the telling, you are probably not. "

The key, therefore, to IBL is not to be rigid, or to foster memorization.  That is nothing more than creating a human database.  They key is to encourage questioning and having the students find their own answers (provided that they are the correct ones) to the problems in a way that will enhance their desire to learn more and to help them retain what they have already learned.

 

Thoughts on Inquiry Based Learning (IBL)

Thoughts on Inquiry Base Learning (IBL)

As a Technology Education instructor, with a focus on engineering, robotics and architecture, I have a very open-ended program in which I allow advanced students some freedom in choosing projects and programs.  When I first started reading about IBL, it reminded me a lot of what I do in the classroom with one major exception:  I provide students with the topics that I want them to research.  I have come to realize, after reading this past week, that this is more of a PBL (Project Based Learning) format than that of an IBL format.

In reading the Inquiry Page ( illinois.edu ), I also came to realize that the two (IBL and PBL) are not necessarily all that different, but that they incorporate many of the same features with the primary exception that the student has more control over what they are learning.  I also noticed a major similarity in what the article refers to as the “spiral path of inquiry” (illinois.edu) and what I work with as a “universal systems model”.

Spiral Path of Inquiry

Universal Systems Model

     

I think that in looking at the practice of IBL, it is better suited for mid to advanced level projects and processes, after the foundation has been laid for what the students not only should, but need to know to proceed.  In trying to explain IBL to a parent who is with me this week, I used an example that fits him.  He is a professional welder.

I put it like this:  After you teach the students the basic types of welding, and some material  properties, you have them develop an item that requires “x” number of welds (different types), and “y” number of materials (again, different types), then be able to justify the selections to the class and yourself. This gives the student the freedom to investigate materials and welds, create their own project, discuss options, reflect on both partial and completed items, and ask for assistance and guidance.

While I believe that I have a grasp on what Inquiry Based Learning is, I am still not certain of the distinction between that and Project Based Learning, and the implementation differences between the two.  I am hoping to clarify that as the course progresses.  

http://www.cii.illinois.edu/InquiryPage/