PBL Blog Post #1 Mandy Irick

Sir Ken Robinson’s speech was a culmination of every belief that I whole-heartedly agreed with when it comes to the public education system. As he stated, often education has become this “industrial model” that sole focus is to produce successful students through a mechanical process of one size fits all mentality. The methodology is heavily reflected in the traditional model of teacher centered being the lone provider of the information that they deem necessary for student success (standards based) with some activity and culminating assessment. Even though the model is highly outdated and at one time would have reflected the past learners educational learning environment, it does not reflect nor hold an impact to the current learners’ needs. Sir Robinson’s ideal model for education should be more reflective of an “agricultural model” that educates students through organic processes that plants a seed but allows many different events to influence the learning and growing process. With project-based learning, it provides a more organic approach that allows students to all have the same basic needs such as standards provided to them. However, it is up to both the teacher and students to grow and develop that knowledge in their own way illustrated in many different outcomes. PBL is a staunch departure from traditional models and mindsets. It allows students to highlight their many talents, which is something that Sir Robinson mentions “human communities depend upon a diversity of talent, not a singular conception of ability.” Through PBL, students are ability to not only branch out into areas of intrigue but challenges as well. The only way to bring about a more individual curriculum that reaches the every changing demands, learning styles and interest of these 21st century learners are through practices like PBL. The challenges that he sets forth are for me as an educator to step outside my comfort zone and the traditional model to embrace the changes that are so desperately needed to step away from the confines of our conflicting educational system. PBL within my school and classroom should be one that connects not just subject areas in my classroom but other classrooms as well. It is creating a network of change among my colleagues and students alike to bring us together as a community. Students can become more involved with current events that are relevant to them currently. Middle school students are a population that are more concerned with what currently affects them and need to be presented with concepts that engage them actively. By involving students with current events, we can connect them to the past so they can view the connections. For me being primary ELA, I know the value in connecting Social Studies to the content that I teach. Allowing the fully understand about genocide or war, may help them to better under the character’s point of view in the story or poem that they are reading. It helps to bring a clarity to them that they would have been lacking. The other important aspects that I want my students is to have ownership of their learning. With middle school students, finding literature that is of value and interest to them is critical. It they are not interested, they will not read it. Allowing projects that provide growth and interest, will keep students actively engaged. One of the biggest struggles that I faced this year with implementing PBL in my ELA classroom and that I can continue to see that will be an issue is feedback and reflection. Students had never really been actively involved in a process where they have to give critical feedback on others and use that information to restructure something they are working on. The same thing with teacher feedback. Most students received some editing feedback or an assessment grade. With PBL, feedback and reflection is something that is constantly ongoing and heavily affects the results. For me, I want to work on providing more mini-lessons to help students navigate this so it is more beneficial for them.