Project Based Learning Discussion Forum

some idea for pbl for the unit micro organisms

2011-11-01T20:18:50-08:00

please provide some idea for pbl for the unit micro organisms

is there any any idea to make a project for green energy?

2011-10-03T10:31:59-08:00

What do you think about my question above? Please reply with your thoughts.

PBLs on Metals, Nonmetals, Metalloids?

2011-09-29T11:58:44-08:00

I am in search for a project based learning opportunity for my sixth graders that includes content such as: metals, non-metals, metalloids, matter, and physical properties of metals, etc. Any ideas or any helpful resources that anyone could pass on to me? Thanks!

PBLs on Science Safety?

2011-08-21T15:00:08-08:00

Hello! I’m planning my first PBL unit now, and am wondering if there are any existing PBLs on science safety for the 5th grade level that lasts 4-5 days.

Also, are there great PBL repositories in general, with high quality project outlines, handouts, lesson plans, and student work samples?

Thanks!

Phases of the Moon

2011-04-30T11:11:45-08:00

I’m looking for a project or challenged based project on phases of the moon.

How do I make PBL work with science and little time?

2010-11-09T13:21:15-08:00

Hi,

I am a physical science and chemistry teacher from a very small district and that has very limited resources. I try to incorporate as many projects in my class as I can. With PSSAs and very short class periods with no lab time, I struggle covering the basic content let alone having my students think outside the box and make the concepts learned more meaningful to them. After attending a presentation today on PBL, I do not feel like I really do PBL. I was wondering if you had some good ideas on how to make PBL work with my content and little time.

Thanks,
Janice Koontz

JKoontz at fasdk12 dot org

Field Ecology Experiments

2010-11-17T16:29:11-08:00

Dear friends, I am teaching ecology and statistics for Biology undergraduate students in Brazil and I am using the PBL approach to teach ecology in field courses. My students are comparing seed germination in classroom also but I preffer to explore the idea of showing nature and ask for ideas of pojects thinking in what would be counted or measured and possible methods to sample the data. The approach is also construtivist because we discuss the ideas and I am not imposing them for the students. Of course, sometimes I need to interfere and give some better ideas or directions. My courses are not only for students but also for teachers trying to change the class routine and improve the students imagination! I am developing projects involving tree leaves measurements, seed size and squirrels diet, bee behaviour and flower visitation, water penetration in soil covered with diferent types of vegetation, etc. I would like to know if anybody have experience with this kind of field ecology projects.

Thanks!

Prof. Dr. J. C. VOLTOLINI
Universidade de Taubate - Departamento de Biologia
Taubate, SP. 12030-010. E-Mail: jcvoltol at uol dot com dot br
ECOTROP (CNPq): http://dgp.cnpq.br/buscaoperacional/detalhegrupo.jsp?grupo=1546205IMB87W7
Currículo Lattes: http://lattes.cnpq.br/8137155809735635
Orkut (“Ensino de Ciência”): http://www.orkut.com.br/Main#Profile?rl=ls&uid=17608429643840608483
Fotos Artísticas: http://voltolini.fotos.net.br/texturas

‘Siamo tutti angeli con un’ala e possiamo volare soltanto se ciabbracciamo’

Do you want to be part of a free Physics software pilot?

2010-09-07T11:45:47-08:00

Physics Teachers Wanted

I’ve been reviewing this simulation software and I am impressed with the potential. It’s free, innovative, and easy to learn. Did I mention it’s free

SimInsights is looking for 5 high school physics teachers to pilot two new products, SimNewton & Physics To The Rescue. Both products are available for free trial. Online training and technical support will also be provided free of charge. SimNewton is a software for inquiry based learning of Newtonian mechanics concepts covered in introductory physics courses.

SimNewton has been piloted at Fremont High School in Bay area (http://collaborativesimulations.blogspot.com/2010/07/simnewton-helps-high-school-students.html) and at Pomona College summer school (PAYS). At PAYS, the following project was assigned to a group of high school students:

Project Title: Simulations and guided insights

Project Idea: In this lesson, you will study different bridge designs and the various ways in which they can fail.

Driving Question: Which bridge design is the best?

Entry Event: It starts off with a look at a YouTube video showing the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-zczJXSxnw) How could a mild gale bring down a massive structure?

The poster made by the students is available at http://collaborativesimulations.blogspot.com/2010/07/simnewton-used-by-high-school-seniors.html.

Physics To The Rescue is a set of mini-games, each focusing on a basic physics concept. By playing these games prior to lectures, students will create background knowledge and experience, thus becoming better prepared for classroom learning. Subsequent instruction will help students generalize their knowledge, experience, and observations. The games have been designed by physics teacher and researcher Anna Karelina (http://www.siminsights.com/Games/akresume.pdf) and developed jointly by Anna Karelina and SimInsights Inc. More background information on the research behind the games is available at http://collaborativesimulations.blogspot.com/2010/07/online-game-based-learning-of-physics.html and the games are available at http://www.siminsights.com/Games/

SimInsights is seeking teachers who would like to use SimNewton and/or Physics Physics To The Rescue in their physics classes this fall. To learn more and participate, please email siminsights at gmail dot com.

ABOUT SIMINSIGHTS

SimInsights is founded by professional engineers with 12+ years of rich experience in designing, developing and marketing simulation software used by Fortune 500 companies such as Lockheed Martin, Ford and Toyota. Our mission is to develop a web based platform to engage students in games and simulation based STEM learning. We have combined social networking, collaboration, interactive simulation, gaming, video and charting capabilities within the browser to create a 21st century learning platform. On this platform, we are building a set of software products customized for students at 8th grade to college levels. Our first products - SimNewton and Physics To The Rescue - are designed for introductory physics classes at the high school level. Additional products are being developed for middle school and college students. Please visit our site at http://www.siminsights.com to learn more.

How do I infuse writing into Science PBL?

2010-09-03T08:40:02-08:00

I would like to share a new initiative we have begun here in Oakland, with some funding from the Hewlett Foundation. In Oakland, our history teachers have been working for about ten years to develop authentic assessments of student understanding of history, using techniques developed by the Writing Project. They have the students work with historic documents, and apply what they have learned about the period in question to analyze the documents they are given in written essays. Then teachers come together a few times a year, and bring samples of their students’ writing, which they score together, using common rubrics. This has led to rich discussions among teachers, the sharing of techniques, and has gradually elevated the quality of instruction and student work across the District.

We are seeking to learn from this model and apply elements of it to Project Based Learning. We have created a Science-History PBL Collaborative, with about 25 teachers, half science and half history. We spent a week in August going through PBL 101, and then taking time to work in teams to develop projects. We are not, for the most part, doing cross-curricular projects. But teachers worked in teams to develop projects appropriate for their courses, and we spent time discussing and working on ways to infuse written assessments into the projects. We will be meeting on a monthly basis to follow up and continue planning the projects, and reflecting on the process as it unfolds. We will also be holding a mid-year session to share student work and score it on a common rubric, so we can learn from what different teachers are doing in their classrooms. We are planning to host a sort of PBL Expo in the spring to share student projects district-wide.