Think back to your most memorable educational experience. Chances are, it was an epic project. As teachers, we can design epic projects to make this happen! But what about the time constraints? What about the standards? What happens if students struggle to collaborate? These are the big questions we explore in our PBL workshops. Workshops can be done in-person or virtually.
THREE LEVELS OF P.B.L. WORKSHOPS
Although I work full-time as a university professor, I often conduct PBL workshops. My style is hands-on, engaging, practical, and fun. I infuse each workshop with storytelling, humor, and movement. While I tailor each the learning to the needs of your staff, here is a sampling of what type of workshops I lead.
Getting Started with PBL
Teacher Expertise: Novice
Description: PBL can seem daunting when you have time constraints, standards, and a curriculum map. What does it look like? How do you even get started? In this workshop, we begin with the “why” and move into the “how.” As a group, we will do a mini-project and plan out an initial PBL unit.
Making the Shift to PBL
Teacher Expertise: Emerging
Description: So, you’ve tried PBL but you’ve had mixed results. In this workshop, we focus on how to improve student collaboration through specific structures. We also explore ways to build additional student ownership into the inquiry, research, and project management processes. Finally, we examine specific assessment processes to improve self-reflection and metacognition. In the end, we do a project revision to take PBL to the next level.
Taking PBL to the Next Level
Teacher Expertise: Expert
Description: In this workshop, we focus on how to increase student voice and choice within our PBL units. We explore specific structures to build interdependency and boost collaboration within student projects. We also focus on taking student self-assessment and peer assessment to the next level to maximize metacognition. In addition, we get into ideas like personalization and compacting to take differentiation and choice to the next level. The goal here is to share the collective wisdom of the teachers in the room so that we can all learn from one another.
Contact Me About Leading a Workshop:
Common Questions
The following are some of the common questions people ask about the PBL Workshops:
What can we expect from a full-day workshop?
You can expect a hands-on, fun, thought-provoking experience. I will focus on “the why” and share relatable stories. However, we will also practice specific structures and ultimately design a PBL unit.
What is your expertise in PBL?
I used PBL as a classroom teacher for 12 years. I also coached teachers in my district, spoke about PBL at the White House, and shared practical strategies online. As a current professor, I have helped both preservice teachers and current teachers implement PBL and I am currently doing research on PBL and professional development. But also . . . I’m a project person. I’m always engaged in creative work and this adds a practical element to what I share.
That said, I ultimately believe in the collective wisdom of the people in the room. As a workshop facilitator, I want to help everyone share their expertise so we can grow.
What do you offer beyond the workshop?
Often, a school or district will have me do one-on-one coaching or work with teams in their planning after an initial workshop. I also offer affordable self-paced online professional development that I can bundle into the workshop. Furthermore, I will provide sample projects, structures, and handouts that teachers can use the moment they leave a workshop.