Re: Online Professional Development for PBL

The article “Online Professional Development for Project-based Learning” was posted on the Buck Institute for Education (BIE) website. It discusses the lack of teacher training material that is available to student teachers and teachers who are currently working in the field. The problem with most website is that they display exemplary work, but do not provide the methodology to reproduce such work in classrooms.

“In summary, most of the websites focus on a description and discussion of the content of projects, not showing teachers how to create and manage them to meet academic standards.”

The authors proposed a plan for an interactive website that guides teachers in producing PBL lessons. It also includes a forum for sharing projects and providing links to useful information.

“To summarize — What is unique about the PBL-Online project is that it offers nationally- and
internationally-available opportunities to learn and collaborate about PBL using a specific methodology. The methodology represents a careful distillation of a common-sense planning model for teachers. This is offered as a freely accessible multimedia website and course with step-by-step, systematic training for teachers in planning and implementing and assessing standards-focused Project Based Learning.”

The article was a plan for a website, but I thought the website had never been developed. However, I was able to locate the website with google. Teachers can do an online course and receive 3 units of course credit through Boise State University’s Educational Technology program. The url is http://pbl-online.org/.

Source File:

http://www.bie.org/index.php/site/RE/pbl_research/29

Online Professional Development for Project Based Learning (2004)
Jason Ravitz, John Mergendoller, Thom Markham, Carolyn Thorsen, Kerry Rice, Chareen Snelson, Sherawn Reberry

Summary…

Summary [close]Ravitz, J., Mergendoller, J., Markham, T., Thorsen, C., Rice, K., Snelson, C., and Reberry, S. (2004).  Paper presented at meetings of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. Chicago, IL. October 21, 2004.

This paper describes efforts to increase the prevalence, rigor and relevance of Project Based Learning in US schools and internationally. Under a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education (FIPSE), US Department of Education, the Buck Institute for Education and partners are offering: 1) an online staff development resource, 2) modules for use in teacher training institutions, 3) a re-usable online 3-credit course, and 4) a way to share projects, collaborate on research, and advance understanding of effective use of projects in the classroom. The PBL-Online web site will offer a multi-pathway, interactive, video rich website designed to prepare pre-service and practicing teachers to implement academically rigorous, standards-focused Project Based Learning (PBL). The online materials are based on the BIE Project Based Learning Handbook that provides teachers with in-depth, systematic instruction in the planning, implementation and assessment of standards-focused PBL. Our work with the Handbook was recently highlighted as a key resource for proponents of small school reform in an evaluation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation National School District and Network Grants Program conducted by the American Institutes for Research with SRI International on page 65 of the report (http://smallhs.sri.com ). Making this Handbook available online and offering online instruction in its use will support wider use and study of this promising but often either underutilized or misunderstood approach.

Digital Divide in Project-Based Learning ?

In the February 2008 edition of the online and print magazine called “Educational Leadership,” Jane L. David, a Palo Alto based educational researcher, discussed the pros and cons of Project-Based Learning.

David’s article was referenced in the blog by Suzie Boss and Jane Krauss (http://reinventingpbl.blogspot.com), co-authors of a recently published book “Re-inventing Project-Based Learning.” The title of Suzie Boss’ blog entry is “Projects for the Privileged? Let’s Hope Not!” Suzie Boss disagrees with Jane David because she believes that project-based learning is possible with low-performing students in high-poverty schools.

As an example of a successful project-based learning school, Suzie Boss mentions the San Fernando Education Technology Team, also known as SFETT. This non-profit organization was founded by a former teacher at San Fernando High School in Southern California. Although the Marco Torres’ website is inspiring, just referring to one example of a successful program in a high-poverty area make his accomplishment seem like an exception. In my next blog, I would like to find other low-income schools who have brought computer technology and project-based learning to their students.