5 Strategies for Fostering a
Collaborative Culture in a PBL Classroom
Throughout this school year, my students have experiences
either PBL or STEAM with each unit we study in 7th grade
science. With each project being so
different, I find it difficult every time to let go and allow my students to
take control of their learning and their progress. The group of students I teach are diverse in their
development, demographic status, culture backgrounds, and learning abilities,
which makes it difficult, because they all require unique accommodations or
instruction to learn a concept. I have
to adjust my projects for each individual student to allow them to become
independent in their discoveries in the best way they know how. This article provides five strategies in
order for each group member to be accountable for their learning and role in
their teams.
Strategy 1: Make sure team members know what is
expected of them
Ensure each student is presented with a clear goal and
expectation of his or her assigned task in the group.
Strategy 2: Create norms and roles where appropriate
When students have designated roles and tasks to complete
within the group, it helps to keep students on task, when knowing their group members
are counting on them to be successful in their role or job. Groups are given rules and guidelines they
must follow. Students are becoming more accountable
for their actions.
Strategy 3: Monitor progress constantly
Check-in regularly with teams to ensure they are
progressing each day.
Strategy 4: Celebrate even little successes
Positive feedback should be given consistently throughout
the project to encourage students to keep progressing and not become disengaged
and know their hard work is noticed and is appreciated. It also could encourage students that are
less engaged to become more involved and care more about their work.
Strategy 5: Give students ways to informally develop
cohesion
Allow opportunities to interact with one another. Provide them with more hands-on learning
experiences.
Hi Kristi,
ReplyDeleteI am thankful that you know the importance of personalizing your instruction to meet the diverse needs, abilities, strengths, personalities, and cultures of your students. I am glad that this article was helpful to you in helping improve the cooperating learning groups within your project based learning units of study. The one that stood out the most to me was number 2. Creating norms and roles where appropriate is important because we don't want to impose prescriptive roles on students that may not fit or be necessary. In fact, our best norms and roles are created with students, not assigned to them.
Thank you,
Dawn
I just listened to a British philosopher this morning discussing letting go of control over things. That you don't have to be in total control over everything, that if you try and control everything you actually have no control. I like this reminder of how to let go of tasks to students. I always fear disorder so I go to far to create order and what I need to do is establish more structure and consequences so that control is an understood contract between the student and teacher.
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard to let go and allow the students to take control. I am the same way. My goal in the future is to allow for my students to have more responsibility.
ReplyDelete