This is the first video blog in a series that shows a project from beginning to end.  The entry event is shown here as well as what makes this project more difficult than others.

I became extremely discouraged after watching other teachers do PBL.  I thought I was doing it all wrong, but I had to remember that I am new and my PBL lessons do have an impact.

Since this video blog was made, I have altered a few things.  Keep in mind, I'm a new teacher, so what might seem obvious to some, wasn't to me.  After this project, where students were mapping their ancestry, I sent emails home to parents and made a few phone calls.  Part of the problem was motivation and since I have asked for help from parents, things have been much better.

The other change I made was I reevaluated my project and realized that there was no presentation at the end.  I'm not sure what I was thinking, but having the students present their material, even to the class, gets such a better product than not presenting at all.  Many students are first motivated by not looking bad in front of their peers, then their parents, then they are motivated by grades.

Initially, I was afraid that PBL wouldn't be rigorous enough for my students and that they would find class too easy.  I was wrong.

Some thoughts on having a project planned out ahead of time as well as using Evernote as a brainstorming session as I walk around school.