Blog Post #9

Seven Essentials for Project Based Learning by  John Larmer and John R. Mergendoller list the main points for project base learning.
The seven essentials are:
1. A need to know
2. A Driving Question
3. Student Voice and Choice
4. 21st Century Skills
5. Inquiry and Innovation
6. Feedback and Revision
7. Publicly Presented Production
These steps can turn an assignment of an ordinary worksheet into a problem solving, very educational experience.



Project Based Learning for Teachers by Tony Vincent  show how Problem
base learning is achieved through questioning, investigating sharing and reflecting.  Vincent breaks down problem based learning by using steps.  First is having a purpose, then addressing an audience, and next is crafting a driving question followed by identifying learning standards. Vincent reveals his latter group of steps as creating a rubric, and grouping students followed by brainstorming branching questions.  The last series of questions meeting deadlines, focusing of the process and refining the end product.  I really liked the way Vincent broke these steps down for problem base learning.

Suzanne Ball  has a video on children s motivation called What motivates students.  Ball uses students to share what makes them want to perform well in school.  The performance management first details what children think their result will be when the make good grades.  The later part shows what teachers use to reward students for good grades and behavior.  I love watching the students give their view of what motivates them.

 Lindsey Float show a video on Two Students solve the case of watery ketchup by designing a new cap.  Float shows us how two students solve the problem with their lunchtime ketchup.  Richards, and Thompson two seniors design a new cap to stop the ketchup problem. Using problem base learning, their teacher was very pleased with their final product.  I was very pleased to see that their project was of one that both students had an interest in.


Project Base Learning in PE  by Pflug was a great article I found very interesting using two different age groups.  Pflug showed how high school kids helped middle school kids with the physical fitness.  By using the six standards of physical education , the project benefited both age groups.  I was very excited seeing the students take the role as teacher or coaches with other students.