Top 7 Project Based Learning Sites
by Grant Zimmerman
Helpful Project Based Learning Tools
Sometimes readers want us to cut to the chase and just point them in the right direction. This looks to be one of those important times. I looked back over the past couple years’ worth of my blogs for Digital Learning Environments and –thankfully—found what I expected. My conversations elucidate the passion I have for thinking and learning in an environment that is active, collaborative, and authentic. It does me no good learning about the physics of hammering a nail into a pine board unless I find myself needing to do just that—hammer a nail. There is way too much involved in swinging a hammer to talk about here, but as we begin finding a way to shortcut the chase, you have to swing a hammer repeatedly and with purpose in order to understand how it works. Then again you could just rent an air compressor and really cut to the chase.
The Magic and Rigor of Paideia from Grant Zimmerman on Vimeo.
Two ideas take shape here. First, something that seems really easy, like hammering a nail, takes more practice and perseverance that it looks like it should on the surface. What looks easy often isn’t. Second, learn from yourself and your colleagues. Because the nail rockets off the edge of the hammer’s head or you miss it completely doesn’t compel you to give up and stop trying. You keep trying till you get it right. After all, you are trying to secure two boards to each other. Practice with thought and motivation.
Jumping back to my passion for thinking and learning, I have found over my many years working with students of all ages—from pre-school to adults—we want to think and learn in authentic, active environments and work with other people at the same time. The same conditions exist whether the class is face-to-face or online. The more complex the assignment the more authentic, active, and collaborative it should be. So as we plan intellectual, complex assignments, we should also be planning how the students will work as a team. We can teach collaborative skills just as we can teach reading skills. One effective way to teach the skills of teamwork is to have a group of students revise an already prepared assignment. The students rewrite an essay, a script, PPT, video, text message, dialogue, etc. using a guiding protocol that helps with the content. Remember the focus is placing the students in a collaborative setting in which the focus of the lesson is to collaborate. Perhaps, the content should even be about why collaboration is important and what is necessary to make a team work successfully.
Perhaps for us teachers and administrators, we might schedule some faculty meetings or professional development days learning how to build high quality, authentic, collaborative units in which the students build products or present performances that show what they have learned? Is this possible?
PBL Caveat
We have to coach, guide, push, teach, direct, suggest, and even demand actions from our students. Some students will require more and different guidance than others. Project Based Learning does not mean turning the students loose to learn on their own. The opposite actions hold more truth. These top 7 web sites about Project Based Learning will interest you, teach you, and maybe—not only answer some of your questions—but spark you into asking your own important questions.
PBL-Online.org, http://pbl-online.org
· Once registered search for units or create your own.
Project Based Learning Checklists, http://pblchecklist.4teachers.org/index.shtml
· Create your own PBL rubrics that define high quality work and collaboration.
Edutopia, http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning
· Useful site with videos, blogs, and information
Learn NC, http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/4753
·The premier location for online coursework and classes.
Buck Institute ,http://www.bie.org/index.php/site/PBL/overview_pbl/
·One of the granddaddy’s of PBL. Good place for protocols to help in planning.
National Paideia Center, http://www.paideia.org
· Originators and founding creators of the Paideia Project. The Paideia Project is a unit of study that leads to a student production or performance of real value to an audience outside the classroom. It is designed specifically to create relevant classroom work that connects the standardized curriculum to the larger world in which your students live. Includes the Paideia Seminar.
Internet4Classrooms, http://www.internet4classrooms.com/project.htm
· Explanations and links to tried and tested web sites for students. An indispensible collection when you are trying to cut to the chase.
Grant Zimmerman is the Senior Education Consultant withKnowledge Network Solutions—Leaders in Technology Integration in Schools. Grant is also on the faculty of The National Paideia Center at the University of North Carolina. He leads educators in Professional Development sessions on the Paideia Seminar, the Paideia Project, and Technology Integration. You can reach Grant atgzimmerman@northcarolina.edu.
