project-based learning Archives - Page 2 of 2

Mar 12 2021

Dr. Melissa Deutsch on the PBL Journey

By John Spencer Podcast, Project-Based Learning 2 Comments

Project-based learning can feel overwhelming. It can seem like an entire transformation in your teaching practice. However, it doesn't have to require a massive overhaul. Often, it's more like an evolution. In my latest podcast episode, I interview Dr. Melissa Deutsch about her PBL journey.…

Mar 05 2021

Four Ways to Boost Collaboration in Student Projects

By John Spencer Creative Collaboration, Creativity, Podcast, Project-Based Learning 5 Comments

Creative collaboration can be challenging at every every level of education. Sometimes the issue is work imbalance, with one student doing the majority of the work while others slack off. The term organizational psychology is "cognitive loafing." In some cases, it can feel like one…

Apr 14 2020

How to Make PBL a Reality in a Distance Learning Environment

By John Spencer Podcast, Project-Based Learning 5 Comments

If you think about your most powerful learning experiences, there's a good chance at least one of these experiences involved a project. This is where you learned how to research, how to ideate, how to work with others, how to engage in productive struggle, and…

Jul 22 2019

Here’s How to Empower Students While Also Hitting the Standards

By John Spencer Creativity, Empowering Students One Comment

Student ownership sounds like a great idea but what about the standards? How do we teach all of the standards while also empowering students with voice and choice? How do we accomplish this when we have a curriculum map? Rethinking the Curriculum Map It…

Jun 04 2019

It’s Okay to Do That Same Epic Project Next Year

By John Spencer Podcast, Project-Based Learning 2 Comments

It was twelve years ago when I sat down with a journal and began debriefing my first full year of going project-based. I had a list of what went well, what went poorly, and what things I wanted to try out the next year. As…

Aug 31 2018

Five Structures for Helping Students Learn Project Management

By John Spencer Creative Collaboration, Creativity, Podcast, Project-Based Learning 14 Comments

If we want students to think like artists, entrepreneurs, and engineers, they need the chance to design real projects. But this also requires students to learn how to engage in project management. The following is a short video on the project management process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7yZutiwRso&t=26s …

May 13 2018

5 Myths About Classroom Management in PBL

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast, Project-Based Learning 6 Comments

I want to make something clear before we dive into this topic. I made huge mistakes in classroom management as a teacher. I let certain disruptive behaviors go unchecked because I was tired and I didn't want to put out another fire. I had moments…

Mar 02 2018

Students Need to Solve Real Problems

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast, Project-Based Learning 4 Comments

In the 1980s, somebody decided that haircuts were way too messy. So, they combined a hair trimmer with a vacuum cleaner and we ended up with the Flowbee. I remember begging my parents for a Flowbee and they said "no," because they thought I would…

Jan 20 2018

The Seven Biggest Lies that Keep Teachers from Implementing Project-Based Learning

By John Spencer Creativity, Podcast, Project-Based Learning 6 Comments

We know that kids learn at a deeper level when they do meaningful projects. We've seen how it increases engagement and creates memorable experiences. However, let's be real. Project-Based Learning can feel daunting at first. How do you make it fit within the standards? How do…

Feb 09 2015

What Makes Project-Based Learning Work?

By John Spencer Project-Based Learning 2 Comments

So, I’m at the Nova Now Conference at Kent Innovation High School and I’m watching the students working on an aquaponics project. At one table, students are debating the aesthetic design. In another area, students are using Sketch Up to work on a framework for…