B.++Project+Design

The first step for success is to design a project that:
1. **Meets your objectives in terms of student learning.** Choose the learning first, not the tools, materials, or resources. 2 .**Promotes enduring understandings.** Use the SAS portal. Try this: From the Curriculum Framework tab, select content area/grade level. Then Search: Choose a Big Idea, then a competency. 3.. **Is focused on student discovery of the answer(s) to an essential question.** 4. **Allows for a variety of learning styles and differences (differentiation).** Build in variety and choice. 5. **Engages students because they can see** **a real-world application or purpose.** 6. **Requires the application of higher-order thinking skills**. Take a look at the new Bloom's Taxonomy. 7. **Requires students to be reflective about learning.** Try: i-Search, learning journals, or KWHL chart. media type="custom" key="6404109"

A word or two about planning:
Like all good teaching, you're going to have to teach students the necessary components of successful project management before they are able to move to independent learning. Model, teach, and then reteach, the steps of the BIG SIX skills for information management.

If you're planning on having students work in cooperative groups, create roles and responsibilities for each student. You may need to take time to teach the roles, as well.

Start small. Do a ridiculously simple project so that everyone can be successful, and so you can focus on teaching the process.

Assess student performance throughout the project, not just at the end. Create rubrics that assess process as well as product. If you're planning on having students work in cooperative groups, make sure you include individual work and individual assessments, as well as group work and group assessments.

Allow twice the time to complete the entire project as you think you need, especially if this is your first attempt at project-based learning.

Don't worry about "not covering" the topic as quickly as if you'd used a more traditional method of teaching. You're going for lifelong learning here...isn't the time invested worth it?

Once your students become accustomed to this approach, your projects can become more complex. You may find that they are learning faster this way than if you taught in a more traditional fashion.

And the best part? They'll remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, and create. In other words, they'll learn for life!