Pick One: Read or Watch
Round Table Discussion starting at 3:23
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Group Discussion
1. Does a PBL have to accomplish a real world task that changes the world in order to be considered authentic? Why or why not?
2. What makes a project authentic? 3. Share a project you've done in the past that's demonstrated authenticity. |
Action and Assessment
Evaluate a PBL of your choice using the rubric below.
Steps to make your project more authentic - take what you like
1. Revise the driving question to include a real world profession and task using the resources found towards the bottom of the Challenging Problem or Question Page.
2. Brainstorm real world professions and activities that occur around campus on a day to day basis: food service, food pantry, cleaning, construction, marketing and media development, counseling, coaching, preaching, teaching, etc. Think of how your project could be modified to fit into one of these areas to bring more authenticity and meaning for students.
3. Keep your ears open for ways in which your students can SERVE each other. Many driving questions can be turned into a teaching opportunities where the students are given the role of teacher and asked to create a lesson, presentation, or learning product that helps a younger group of students learn something.
4. Get to know your community (alumni, parents, family, etc). The more you talk to people outside the teaching profession, the more you'll see opportunities to connect your classroom to the real world (example: the traditional 8th grade egg drop project wasn't authentic, but after talking to an alumni about his new summer job working for Honda, I was inspired to change the project to designing a car or air bag system that could withstand an impact and protect a human (egg). This was far more authentic than dropping an egg because it was real-world (we don't drop eggs), and it was nearing the time that students would start driving (8th grade).
5. Add more voice and choice into the project. Students will naturally pick the things that interest them most. This can add authenticity.
6. Use authentic materials. Instead of taking materials from a textbook, consider incorporating some primary documents or some online articles focusing on current events.
7. Bring in an authentic voice - Bringing in an outside expert brings authenticity to the project. If they can talk about their life and how it ties into what the students are doing right now, the class will feel like they're doing something meaningful.
2. Brainstorm real world professions and activities that occur around campus on a day to day basis: food service, food pantry, cleaning, construction, marketing and media development, counseling, coaching, preaching, teaching, etc. Think of how your project could be modified to fit into one of these areas to bring more authenticity and meaning for students.
3. Keep your ears open for ways in which your students can SERVE each other. Many driving questions can be turned into a teaching opportunities where the students are given the role of teacher and asked to create a lesson, presentation, or learning product that helps a younger group of students learn something.
4. Get to know your community (alumni, parents, family, etc). The more you talk to people outside the teaching profession, the more you'll see opportunities to connect your classroom to the real world (example: the traditional 8th grade egg drop project wasn't authentic, but after talking to an alumni about his new summer job working for Honda, I was inspired to change the project to designing a car or air bag system that could withstand an impact and protect a human (egg). This was far more authentic than dropping an egg because it was real-world (we don't drop eggs), and it was nearing the time that students would start driving (8th grade).
5. Add more voice and choice into the project. Students will naturally pick the things that interest them most. This can add authenticity.
6. Use authentic materials. Instead of taking materials from a textbook, consider incorporating some primary documents or some online articles focusing on current events.
7. Bring in an authentic voice - Bringing in an outside expert brings authenticity to the project. If they can talk about their life and how it ties into what the students are doing right now, the class will feel like they're doing something meaningful.