Think back to your most memorable educational experience. Chances are, it was an epic project. As teachers, we can design epic projects to make this happen! But what about the time constraints? What about the standards? What happens if students struggle to collaborate? These are the big questions we explore in our PBL by Design workshops. Here we use PBL as the pedagogical framework and design thinking as the creative framework in a way that reduces cognitive load and helps ensure all students can thrive during projects.
THREE LEVELS OF P.B.L. WORKSHOPS
Although I work full-time as a university professor, I often conduct PBL workshops. My style is hands-on, engaging, practical, and fun. I infuse each workshop with storytelling, humor, and movement. While I tailor each the learning to the needs of your staff, here is a sampling of what type of workshops I lead.
PBL for All
Teacher Expertise: Novice
Description: We know that PBL is a powerful way for students to develop the skills they will use in the Creative Economy. It’s also a powerful way to increase rehearsal and retrieval leading to a deeper retention of content knowledge. Unfortunately, many students will learning differences have not been given the same PBL opportunities. In this workshop, we’ll delve into the dynamic world of Project-Based Learning (PBL) with a strong emphasis on designing scaffolds and supports to make PBL accessible for all students. We understand that educators often face time constraints, standardized testing pressures, and the need to follow a curriculum map. However, by integrating a UDL framework and implementing structured protocols, we can empower students to own the PBL process.
Making the Shift to PBL
Teacher Expertise: Emerging
Description: So, you’ve tried PBL but you’ve had mixed results. In this workshop, we focus on how to improve student collaboration through specific structures. We also explore ways to build additional student ownership into the inquiry, research, and project management processes. Finally, we examine specific assessment processes to improve self-reflection and metacognition. In the end, we do a project revision to take PBL to the next level.
Taking PBL to the Next Level
Teacher Expertise: Expert
Description: In this workshop, we focus on how to increase student voice and choice within our PBL units. We explore specific structures to build interdependency and boost collaboration within student projects. We also focus on taking student self-assessment and peer assessment to the next level to maximize metacognition. In addition, we get into ideas like personalization and compacting to take differentiation and choice to the next level. The goal here is to share the collective wisdom of the teachers in the room so that we can all learn from one another.
Workshop Format Options
- 90-minute workshop: Participants will gain a basic overview of the core concepts along with at least one actionable strategy they can implement in the classroom
- Half-Day workshop: Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the core concepts with 2-3 actionable strategies they can implement in the classroom
- Full-Day workshop: Participants will take a deeper dive into the core concepts. They will leave with at least five actionable strategies that they have practiced and experienced firsthand. By the end of the day, they will also develop a specific plan for implementation.
- 2-Day workshop: Participants will go in-depth into the core concepts. They will develop their own toolkit with a suite of actionable strategies and protocols they have practiced firsthand. They will also create an in-depth unit plan that integrates these strategies into their curriculum.
Contact Me About Leading a Workshop:
Common Questions
The following are some of the common questions people ask about the PBL Workshops:
What can we expect from a full-day workshop?
You can expect a hands-on, fun, thought-provoking experience. I will focus on “the why” and share relatable stories. However, we will also practice specific structures and ultimately design a PBL unit.
What is your expertise in PBL?
I used PBL as a classroom teacher for 12 years. I also coached teachers in my district, spoke about PBL at the White House, and shared practical strategies online. As a current professor, I have helped both preservice teachers and current teachers implement PBL and I am currently doing research on PBL and professional development. But also . . . I’m a project person. I’m always engaged in creative work and this adds a practical element to what I share.
That said, I ultimately believe in the collective wisdom of the people in the room. As a workshop facilitator, I want to help everyone share their expertise so we can grow.
What do you offer beyond the workshop?
Often, a school or district will have me do one-on-one coaching or work with teams in their planning after an initial workshop. I also offer affordable self-paced online professional development that I can bundle into the workshop. Furthermore, I will provide sample projects, structures, and handouts that teachers can use the moment they leave a workshop.