I am working on a masters project addressing successful implementation of PBL. I am finding little research on direct support from the administrator level. Is there a rubric, implementation model, template, guide, etc.?

Thanks for the question.  First of do you have a copy of the PBL Handbook?  We find that administrators gravitate to the PBL Handbook, than the PBL Starter Kit.  The introduction is available at http://www.bie.org/tools/handbook

Some of the forms from the Handbook are also available for free in our Useful Downloads section. http://www.bie.org/tools/useful

I wanted to make sure that you have seen this material.  If you have seen all this already, then are you interested in more observational tools?

Alfred, thanks for the quick reply. Good to see that you are working.
I have reviewed a colleague’s copy of the PBL Handbook and ordered a copy today. I have also reviewed (briefly) the Useful Downloads and will take a closer look at that material.
What I am looking for is material that would allow a site/district administrator to directly support teacher professional development in the implementation of PBL; that would allow a site/district administer to evaluate and assess effective PBL instruction in the classroom; observation tools would be good also.
Any suggestions?

Did you happen to see John Larmer’s, Director of Product Development, post where he attached a draft PBL Design Rubric?  http://www.bie.org/forums/viewthread/11/
We are also working on a rubric for PBL Implementation.

Looking at school models where all teachers are successfully creating PBL,  we find they have administrative and instructional leadership that puts a priority on providing the time and other resources necessary to make PBL happen. These leaders promote PBL to parents, the community, and the students, to be sure everyone is on board with the effort, and help troubleshoot implementation issues when they occur.  They provide plenty of time for teachers to meet with colleagues to plan projects, critique and fine-tune lessons, and gather and share resources. Common, calibrated rubrics for 21st century learning goals are used by the whole school, and grading policies and practices are standardized to account for the use of PBL.

If you really want to “directly support” the teachers then how about facilitating a Critical Friends Tuning Protocol to help improve project design through critique (See Download)...  http://www.bie.org/tools/useful_stuff/critical_friends

...or having a discussion with the staff about what makes a good Driving Question.  Good projects start there (See Video).  http://www.bie.org/tools/video/watershed_project_craft_the_driving_question

Our Executive Director, John Mergendoller, did upload a quick observation tool that he used during a conference (See Download). http://www.bie.org/professional_development/workshop_downloads_se/project_essentials_checklist

Alfred,

Sorry to just be getting back to you. Just getting home from work.

You are a wealth of information and I will review all of it in the next several hours. Thank you for presenting it succinctly and thoroughly.

Is this content okay to use (with proper acknowledgment, of course) for my work on a Masters project? My interest in PBL is much deeper as my district (Montebello Unified, CA) will be opening a new Multiple Pathways H.S. in the fall and I would like to be able to support this effort.

I will post another reply after reviewing material.

I have reviewed the materials. I realize I had indeed seen John Larmer’s PBL design rubric. In fact, I have reformatted it (not content) for ease of reading and attached it to this post. I will take a closer look at the content and see if there is anything I can refine. The other materials are a great start. Please let me know if you have any other suggestions. I would also like to express my willingness to support your work in any way.

You are welcome and please just keep sending folks to our PBL community.  I’ll tell John L. about your revisions.  That’s what we like to see!  It’s like what I say to folks who want to replicate one of my projects @ http://alfredsolis.com, “...on one condition…make it better.” 

Hopefully you are following us on http://twitter.com/biepbl to get the latest and greatest.