Case study #2 is in "prezi" form. Follow this link to view my commentary: http://tinyurl.com/k7l3zxn
Case Study #1 - Exponential Times
There are many of this style of videos on the internet - statistics overlaying graphics with a catchy tune in the background. The challenge is to stop and pay attention to the numbers and really think about what it means for the future of education. Of the many statistics that stand out, one is most notable: the top jobs in 2012 did not exist in 2002. We are preparing students for a world that does not yet exist. How do we do that? Certainly we need to emphasize the skills they will need that can be transferred to any career - communication, collaboration, teamwork, leadership, problem solving. We also need to make their learning about the world outside of the four walls of the classroom and give them engagement with the real world that they will face in the future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax5cNlutAys Case Study #2 - The Textbook Case This video profiles Dana Elementary School in Hendersonville, NC, a textbook case of a 21st century, PBL school. There is a focus on collaboration among students. Notably, they made a deliberate choice not to have a 1:1 computing environment in order to encourage more collaboration among the students. There is a widespread variety of technology use in the classroom to enhance the students’ learning. There is an emphasis on creative problem solving - giving kids skills which they will need to use in the real world. Teacher collaboration is also profiled - it is a critical element of a successful PBL environment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayyJ6vJDIAE Case Study #3 - Transformation This video profiles a high school in Washington that is in the middle of a transformation process - traditional school to fully implemented problem-based learning. Here we find them in year three of a five year process. It is interesting to hear the teachers discuss the challenge of the varying levels of acceptance. They are being asked to re-think things they have done for a very long time. Giving up the old in order to embrace the new is hard. The good news of course, is that PBL does not mean giving up entirely on traditional methods. It means embracing new ideas with the best of the traditional methods. Teacher buy-in is key to success. Teachers are being given a voice in creating their courses which is an effective way to creat buy-in. Particularly interesting is a 9th grade student who talks about how she can use the subjects that she is learning in her future and for the rest of her life. That’s a powerful thought. http://www.edutopia.org/sammamish-problem-based-learning-implementation-video |