Dec. 12-16, 2016

Each Friday we post a list of articles, blog posts, and other resources we’ve run across that relate to Project Based Learning.

Here’s what we liked this week:

Developing Self-Directed Learners
Getting Smart
Tom Vander Ark and Emily Liebtag offer several strategies for creating educational experiences and environments that teach students to be self-directed, a vital 21st century trait that goes hand-in-hand with PBL. Helpful links to various schools where they see this happening.

Innovation Growing at Boston Public Schools
Boston Herald
The district is converting two high schools to “innovation schools” that will include PBL—along with social-emotional wellness at one and social justice at the other— with plans for three more on the way.

Leveraging Field Trips to “Deepen Learning”
Education Week Teacher
Blogger Larry Ferlazzo asked for responses to the question, “How can teachers maximize the learning potential of field trips?” and got a great one from our fellow PBL traveler Ron Berger of EL Education. He advocates “field work” rather than “trips” because that’s what adult professionals do, and gives examples of projects that use the practice.

Applying Solution Fluency to Your Project-Based Learning Challenges
Global Digital Citizen
To help with problem-solving and avoid a “quick-fix” mentality, Lee Watanabe Crockett offers the “6Ds” process: Define, Discover, Dream, Design, Deliver, Debrief.

Classic Pop Songs, Reimagined as Infographics
The Bold Italic.com
OK, this is super-cool, and while not directly PBL-related it might be a great idea for student projects. San Francisco–based designer Katrina McHugh created “100 Days of Lyrical Natural Sciences” with beautiful and often funny infographics based on pop songs. If any teacher out there tries this, please let me know!

Own Your Curiosity: High School Reimagined
K12 Engineering Education podcast
I missed this one last month, but it’s a great interview with Mikala Streeter, who moved from the computer science industry to start the LIFE School in Atlanta, Georgia. She describes how students integrate design thinking into interdisciplinary self-directed projects.

Why Education Should Become More Like Artificial Intelligence
TechCrunch.com
Here’s one from the business world, calling for education to emphasize creativity and learn-to-learn skills.

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