Keep It Real With PBL, Secondary: A Practical Guide for Planning Project-Based Learning

by Jennifer R. Pieratt

Overview

Let′s Get Real About PBL

The book′s companion website features an updated guide to help teachers integrate technology into PBL experiences for online and blended learning instruction.

Does project-based learning (PBL) feel just out of reach in in your secondary classroom? Is project-planning an overwhelming project in and of itself? Dr. Jennifer Pieratt, a consultant and former teacher, knows firsthand how challenging designing projects can be, especially for secondary teachers with large caseloads and short class periods to engage in meaningful teaching and learning.

In this hands-on, interactive guide, Pieratt supports secondary teachers through the iterative process of planning authentic project-based learning experiences. Using backward design, she gives teachers ready to use strategies for identifying the best concepts to tackle in PBL experiences, brainstorming realistic projects, facilitating meaningful learning, and creating formative and summative assessments. The book is visually accessible in style and features

#realtalk soundbites that tackle the challenges to implementing PBL

Tips and resources to support the project-planning process

Planning forms to guide you through planning your projects

Key terminology and acronyms in PBL

Exercises to help you reflect and process throughout your project plans

Master PBL planning with this clear, efficient, and easy-to-use guide to creating enriching experiences for your students! 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781544369389
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	12/19/2019
Series:	Corwin Teaching Essentials
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Jenny Pieratt, Ph.D. is a Progressive Educator and Teacherpreneur.  She was a founding staff member at High Tech High North County, a former School Development Coach at New Tech Network, and National Faculty at BIE.  In 2016 Jenny became the Founder and President of CraftED — a leading voice for the "mainstream wave" of PBL implementation, through virtual and onsite professional development and coaching, active networking, and practitioner-based publications. With a PhD in educational philosophy, specifically PBL, Jenny prides herself on staying in the trenches with teachers and advocating for teacher support to bring HQPBL to classrooms across the U.S. Jenny is an active blogger and speaker, former teacher of grades 5-10, equity advocate, and proud small business owner. Jenny resides in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA with her husband and two children.

Table of Contents

List of Resources on the Companion Website
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
Letter to Secondary Teachers
How to Use This Book
Chapter 1: The Why and What of Project-Based Learning
An Overview of Project-Based Learning (PBL)
Why PBL ?
Intro to HQPBL
Chapter 2: The Role of the Teacher in PBL
The Paradigm Shift
Instructional Best Practices
Adult Agency
PBL Teacher Profile
Chapter 3: Project Brainstorming
Where to Look for Ideas
Collaborative Brainstorming
Chapter 4: Planning PBL for Your Year
Big Picture and Big Ideas
Make Content Connections: Planning Interdisciplinary Projects
Pacing Your Project
Chapter 5: Planning With the End in Mind
Drafting Enduring Understandings
Crafting Driving Questions
Final Products
Culminating Experience
Chapter 6: Benchmarking Your Project
What Is Benchmarking?
Identifying Deliverables
Chapter 7: Assessment in PBL
Best Practices in Assessment Apply to PBL
How to Build Your Project Rubric
Planning for Formative Assessment
Student Engagement in PBL Assessment
Chapter 8: Planning Daily Learning in PBL
Create Your Big-Picture Project Calendar
Daily Learning
Differentiating Project Plans
Chapter 9: Classroom Management in PBL
Establish a Central Location for Project Resources
Make the Project Process Visible
Use Group Contracts, Protocols, and Roles
Consider the Workshop Method
Chapter 10: Launching Your Project
The Hook
Project Guidelines
The Knows/Need to Knows
Project Groups
Home Communication
Chapter 11: Next Steps
Prototype Your Project
Keep Building Those Reflection Skills
Seek Out Collegial Feedback
Plan for Exhibiting Student Work
Collect Community Connections
Scaling and Sustaining HQPBL
Appendix Overview
Appendix A: Complete Project Plans
A1—Sixth-Grade Humanities
A2—Ninth-Grade Humanities
A3—12th-Grade Entrepreneurship
A4—Assessment Tips and Tricks From the Trenches
A5—Sample Detailed Integrated Scope and Sequence
Appendix B: Blank Project Planning Templates
Glossary
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

This is the book PBL educators have been waiting for! Whether you are starting out on your PBL journey or have been at it for years, this book is full of helpful ideas, tactics, and exemplars—the kind of book that never even makes it to the shelf because you are constantly using it. Jennifer Pieratt knows how to help educators realize their own potential to facilitate powerful PBL experiences for all students. This book is a window into her years of expertise and experiences.

Emily Liebtag

In her introduction to Keep It Real With PBL, Jenny Pieratt describes her commitment to be direct with teachers about developing engaging and strong PBL experiences for their students. She has done just that, combining her deep experience from varied perspectives—PBL teacher and colleague, coach, consultant—to provide a straightforward but detailed path to developing high quality PBL opportunities for learners. Jenny is at once optimistic and realistic, encouraging and pragmatic. While this book is designed for teachers just starting out in PBL work, experienced PBL teachers will benefit from the thoroughness of Jenny’s descriptions of planning and implementing strong PBL experiences—and will almost surely be introduced to useful new resources as well.

Rick Lear

For someone new to teaching or to project-based learning, this workbook simplifies the process without letting go of essential elements that make the project a valuable educational experience.

Dufrocq Elementary School, Baton Rouge, LA - Marcia Le Compte

It is inspiring to see how our students can make a positive impact on our world when we as educators empower them through project-based learning. This book provides the necessary structures, supports, and encouragement to shift to these dynamic practices so that we can better serve all learners. I have witnessed firsthand the incredible transformation when educators shift practice to embrace the complexities of real-world challenges, and I am excited that this resource will help to spread these powerful learning opportunities to better serve all learners.

Alt School, Oceanside, CA - Devin Vodicka

This book is an excellent tool for any educator wanting to implement project-based learning in their classroom. It provides a step-by-step guide that takes you through the thought process—from posing the question for the project, to the planning that is involved before implementing the project, the process for implementing the project, assessment of the project, and the background resources needed to begin the process.

Public School 190, Brooklyn, NY - Ellen Asregadoo