How can we teach standards and facilitate a PBL unit?
Improving PBL Series
EP1: What are the steps to becoming an impactful PBL educator?
EP2: How can we use portfolios to enhance our teaching practice?
EP3: How can we elevate our PBL unit with community partners?
EP4: How can we create a memorable experience via project-based learning?
EP5: How can we teach standards and implement project-based learning?
EP6: What role does reflection play in the PBL process?
EP7: How can we create a dynamic group culture during project-based learning?
EP8: How can students support a cause via project-based learning?
EP9: How can we promote STEM education via project-based learning?
EP10: How can we get students excited about the project-based learning topic?
EP11: What type of creative artifacts/public products can students create via project-based learning?
EP12: How can we write a project-based learning unit?
EP13: How can we write a compelling scenario for a PBL unit?
I enjoy hearing from teachers because they help me ensure that the resources I create are relevant and helpful. Recently I received a question that suggests that there may be some confusion about what project-based learning should look, sound, and feel like in the classroom. Several teachers asked: How can we design a project-based learning unit that integrates standards? When would I have time to actually teach?
If these questions sound familiar, then this article is for you!
First, let's review the components of the Impactful PBL Roadmap™, the planning framework that I created to help educators craft high-quality project-based learning unit plans. I break the planning process into nine phases.
As a reminder, the nine phases of the Impactful PBL Roadmap™ are:
Phase 1: Identify students' learning objectives
Phase 2: Map the scenario and draft a driving question
Phase 3: Plan students’ assessments
Phase 4: Attract students' attention
Phase 5: Create daily learning experiences
Phase 6: Track students’ progress
Phase 7: Finalize students' showcase agenda
Phase 8: Unite students and build a collaborative culture
Phase 9: Lead students through the reflection process
In this article, we will explore phase one. If you are struggling with selecting standards and learning objectives for your project-based learning unit, perhaps this article will help you move forward in your planning process.
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You may be wondering: Can we teach the standards and implement project-based learning?
The short answer is - yes.
View the standards as the what- meaning what students will learn, and project-based learning as the how- meaning how students will engage with the content. Students should apply what they are learning authentically throughout the unit using real-world applications. After completing a project-based learning experience, students should take what they have learned (based on the learning objectives) and answer the driving question.
During phase five of the planning process, it's necessary to revisit the learning objectives to craft daily lessons. Typically as teachers become more comfortable designing PBL unit plans, they find it easier to integrate content standards and 21st-century skills. At the end of each unit, students will have the chance to demonstrate mastery of the standards and content through their final product and showcase.
How do you select standards for your project-based learning unit?
There are multiple methods teachers can utilize when choosing learning standards or objectives depending on the level of autonomy they have with their teaching schedule. For example, some teachers are not required to follow a strict pacing guide; therefore, they control when they teach particular topics. Whereas, some teachers may need to follow a strict pacing guide. However, the outline that I’m going to share will work for both situations.
Review your planning guide or curriculum guide. Which academic concepts are foundational or essential for students to master to succeed in future classes? Do you have any power standards that are a high priority for students to learn? Can you think of a way to connect these standards to real life? Consider whether exploring these power standards through PBL could deepen student learning.
To be clear, some standards fit very well with PBL, and then some standards are a little more of a stretch, and that's okay. Please don't force it. The goal is to create an authentic learning experience.
Next, let's explore interdisciplinary learning. Interdisciplinary learning is an instructional approach that allows students to connect two or more academic disciplines by exploring clear and relevant links across the curriculum. Through interdisciplinary learning, students can experience learning concepts in a way that's not isolated by content, making educational experiences feel more authentic.
Students also have more opportunities to connect new learning with what they know and are interested in during interdisciplinary units. Therefore learning goals are addressed through multiple subjects, and students can connect what they are learning in one subject area or class to another subject area.
When I was a math teacher, my school took part in a writing across the curriculum initiative, which required me to integrate writing techniques in math class. Students were expected to explain their reasoning using the writing strategies they learned in their writing class, giving them more opportunities to practice their writing skills. This strategy helped students become more confident writers and gave them practice explaining their thoughts in a written format. This interdisciplinary learning gave students the chance to develop 21st-century skills.
Project-based learning offers so many opportunities for interdisciplinary learning.
Ask Yourself: Are there any other content-specific standards you can address during your PBL unit that promotes interdisciplinary learning? It's easier than it may sound. Students will need to conduct research, gather relevant information from various sources, and interpret their findings during project-based learning.
These tasks are all part of the common core English Language Arts Standards. Now, don't get caught up in whether or not your state follows common core. The point is that whether you are a science teacher, a math teacher, or any teacher, at some point, during an actual PBL experience, your students will engage in these tasks. Therefore, without going out of your way or changing your plans, you can integrate ELA standards!
English Language Arts standards can be seen as content-neutral standards because they can be addressed with any topic making it easy to integrate during PBL experiences. Depending on your project-based learning topic, it is possible to incorporate social studies, math, technology, and more.
Let's consider this scenario and driving question:
In September 2018, Hurricane Florence hit landfall. Volatile winds, flooding, and thunderstorms severely damaged homes in some North Carolina regions. In some instances, entire home communities were destroyed and needed rebuilding. A new home builder would like to create a community of smaller homes between 800 to 1000 square feet. Small houses are becoming popular for some families due to many factors such as lower cost and reduced ecological impact.
How can we use our math skills to help an architect design a floor plan and model for a new home community?
In this example, the essential standards relate to area and perimeter, scale drawings, and proportional relationships. But, what other standards could teachers choose to integrate? You could choose to incorporate the English Language Arts standards that I mentioned earlier, involving students conducting research, gathering relevant information, engaging in collaborative discussions, and interpreting their findings.
I live in North Carolina, and we also have information and technology essential standards that cover topics like using technology tools to design products to share information with others, implementing a project-based activity, collaborating and evaluating resources for reliability, etc.
Therefore, depending on your project topic and what you want students to learn, it's possible to integrate multiple standards. You can even consult with other teachers for feedback and brainstorming ideas, especially those who teach different subject areas.
The goal is that by the end of the PBL unit, students should be able to answer the driving question because it aligns with the learning objectives or standards. Keeping this in mind will ensure that the learning experiences you're designing are purposeful and not just random fun activities.
Take action:
Select the learning goals for your next project-based learning unit. Reflect on why the learning goals are essential. Consider what skills students will learn and utilize beyond the classroom.