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 Collaboration & PBL               Home        Learn More        Standards        Inspiration        About the Author


Learn More - Project Based Learning & Collaboration

Project based learning is the engine that drives true student engagement in today’s educational setting. It creates a pathway for students to explore, inquire, and create. During the process, students are honing important communication and collaboration skills that will serve them well in life.    (Ralston,T  2016)
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Students need to leave school college and career ready and prepared for jobs that don’t currently exist.  To do this, teachers must expand the way information is presented. The old methods of teaching such as lecturing, memorization, and drill and practice do not address all of the skills that our students need to be successful in today’s world. Students must be proficient in 21st Century Skills critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, citizenship and problem solving.  Project Based Learning (PBL) is the way to achieve this. It is the way to introduce and instruct them in Common Core State Standards. Teachers need further training in how to correctly implement PBL. Also, as with any strategy, PBL requires time to show its results. The student choice and voice that PBL allows for also allows for multiple types, as well as levels, of learners to succeed.

Initially, I chose to focus on the impact of Project Based Learning on student engagement and achievement. I have used PBL many times, but with a recent move to 5th grade I thought it would be an opportunity to really get into a project.  My experience up to this point had been some training through the New Tech Network (NTN) and some fun projects with first graders. Although the students learned a lot, successfully created projects and shared the knowledge they gained through their presentations, the problem I found was that researching in first grade is predominately done by the teacher. To have a truly authentic project the students would need to be involved at every level of learning and I now had that opportunity.

A Few of My Favorite Tech Tools
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Multiple subject skill building and review, individualized to address student learning gaps.
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Online blogging platform for students. Frees 30 day trial
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Current events, world news, and articles of interest written by kids and professional journalists.
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A free Current Event website for students with standards aligned assessments.

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An easy to use infographic design application.
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A community where students engage in high-interest writing for an authentic audience. Offers 30 day free trial to teachers.
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Easy to use application for creating presentations

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                  i-Movie - easy to use video editing software
                  for use with Apple products.
A great application for capturing and sharing
images and videos.
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LESSONS
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HOW-TOs
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REFERENCES
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ASSESSMENT
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