Growing PBL Teachers and Leaders
In August, thirty teachers representing all the elementary schools and middle school attended the Project-Based Learning Shoulder Series Workshop facilitated by Myla Lee. The interest in this topic was evident with the growing waiting list as well.
According to the Buck Institute of Education, in Project Based Learning (PBL), students go through an extended process of inquiry in response to a complex question, problem, or challenge. While allowing for some degree of student "voice and choice," rigorous projects are carefully planned, managed, and assessed to help students learn key academic content, practice 21st Century Skills (such as collaboration, communication & critical thinking), and create high-quality, authentic products & presentations. The participants ranged from kindergarten to 7th grade teachers. The main focus of the workshop was to gain a deeper understanding of PBL and to write a unit based on the Common Core State Standards using Novi’s Atlas Rubicon as a resource and guide. Dr. Matthews (superintendent), RJ Webber (assistant superintendent), and Jim Fry (technology director) came and spoke to the group to affirm their support of teachers implementing the PBL framework. At the end of the PBL Shoulder Series workshop, Dr. Matthews and RJ Webber offered a great opportunity for sustained and embedded professional development in project-based learning and technology integration. Through grant monies, Myla Lee would support those cohort members in implementing meaningful, standards-based PBL and technology for two years. A total of fifteen teachers from Novi Meadows, Parkview, Village Oaks, Deerfield, Novi Woods, and Novi Middle School have made a commitment to go on this journey. Through observations, reflection, lesson modeling, and collaboration, the primary purpose is to grow PBL teachers who are able to integrate technology meaningfully. |