PROJECT BASED LEARNING BRING CLASSROOM LESSONS TO LIFE

PROJECT BASED LEARNING – BRING CLASSROOM LESSONS TO LIFE Cathy Berrier Ledford High School Mid-Winter NCATA Conference

PROJECT BASED LEARNING (PBL) Is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge. (www. pblworks. org) Students learn by doing!! That’s exactly what we do through FFA – CDE’s and LDE’s, SAE

PROJECT BASED LEARNING Keys to PBL Video

HOW IT WORKS Let’s say you are teaching genetics. It’s obviously a very large unit. This is how a PBL unit about the topic might go: The students start by receiving some traditional instruction about genetics (What is it? How does it work? etc. ) The teacher also introduces the final project: the students are going to analyze food samples to find out if the food’s ingredients are what the restaurant said they were.

HOW IT WORKS – CONT’D Systematically throughout the unit, students are working together (or separately, depending on your style) in learning both about the details of genetics and how they apply to the final project. This is where the bulk of your standards are covered. Occasionally, students participate in labs that let them practice their skills as if they were in a genetics lab. Finally, students analyze the food samples using the knowledge and skills they acquired throughout

STEPS 1. Define the problem Challenging problem - open-ended, engaging driving question 2. Hypothesis & Research information Sustained inquiry - students generate questions, find and use resources, and develop their own answers 3. Field, Laboratory & Classroom work Authenticity - makes a real impact, and/or connected to students’ own concerns and interests 4. Product & Plan presentation Demonstrate what they learn by creating a product and plan the presentation 5. Reflection, Critique & Revision Give and receive feedback on their own work, revise ideas and products or conduct further inquiry

PROJECT BASED LEARNING What is the difference between this and projects? Example PBL Video

EXAMPLE PROBLEMS “There’s what in my water? !” “How safe is my (water, air, soil, food)? ” “How can we teach others to be stewards of the environment? ” “How can we impact hunger in our community? ”

EXAMPLE PROBLEMS “How can we reduce our impact on the food growing systems available in our community? ” “How can we redesign a public space to make it more environmentally sustainable? ” “How are we impacting the local watershed? ”

EXAMPLE PROBLEMS “How can we protect an endangered species in our area? ” “Pesticide use and it’s affect on run-off” “How effective is your detergent, soap, etc. ? ” “What combination of metals makes the best battery to power a motor? ”

EXAMPLE PROBLEMS “How does water move from place to place and pick up contaminants as it moves? ” “Under what conditions does a plant release and consume carbon dioxide? ” “Does the direction of a solar panel affect output? ”

EXAMPLE PROJECTS/PRODUCTS Investigate misconceptions related to agriculture. Design an animal habitat. Survive an outbreak! Build a garden. Design a farm. Let’s take a LOOK at AG EXAMPLES !

EXAMPLE PROJECTS/PRODUCTS Create a value-added agriculture product. Design a prototype. Use GPS to map infestations of a weed, insect, etc. Conduct a stream study. Design a hydroponic unit.

EXAMPLE PROJECTS/PRODUCTS Develop a monthly agricultural report by researching the markets and talking with local producers. Create a business where students provide a service (i. e. dog grooming) for staff in order to learn how to market, provide a service, keep accurate records, etc. Plan a greenhouse layout and benching efficiency for each house. Create a business plan and present plan to potential investors.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INQUIRY RESOURCES • CASE (Curriculum for Agriculture Science Education) Institutes • https: //my. pblworks. org/ • National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Training • https: //www. youtube. com/user/edutopia/se arch? query=Project+Based+Learning

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING PBL’S Donor’s Choose Bright Idea’s – Energy United Toshiba Universal Leaf – NCFFA Tobacco Trust Fund Commission - NCFFA

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING PBL’S National FFA – Living to Serve Grants Identify a community need that falls within one of the 4 areas: 1. Community Safety 2. Hunger 3. Environmental Responsibility 4. Community Engagement

PLEASE CONTACT CATHY BERRIER FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND/OR RESOURCES CBERRIER@DAVIDSON. K 12. NC. US #LEDFORDFFA ON INSTAGRAM