Binge PBL for Teachers by Magnify Learning

By Magnify LearningEducation

Binge PBL for Teachers by Magnify Learning episodes

December 13, 2024E0 - Introduction to Binge PBL for Teachers
Binge PBL for Teachers
Are you looking to teach the way you’ve always wanted to? With passion and purpose?
Are you tired of piecing together and fighting for student engagement every day?
Are you wondering what Project Based Learning is all about?
Are you ready to teach inspired?
20 Episodes - All less than 15 minutes...Bingeable!
Resources at the end of every episode.
20 of the biggest Needs to Knows we have gotten over the last decade of being in classrooms with classroom teachers just like you.
Magnify Learning - www.magnifypbl.com
WhatIsPBL.com - free resources to get you started on your PBL journey!
2 min
December 13, 2024E1 - Why PBL is Best for Kids
Why PBL is Best for Kids?
The episode focuses on why Project Based Learning (PBL) is beneficial for students.

Host Ryan Steuer begins by sharing a story about his former student, Skyler.
Skyler was a bright student in his early elementary years, but began to struggle around third grade.
Skyler did not see the value of school and stopped completing his assignments, failing most of his classes.
When Ryan introduced Project Based Learning and service learning in seventh and eighth grade, Skyler's attitude towards school changed completely.
Through PBL, Skyler finally understood why he needed to learn certain concepts. For example, he was motivated to learn about Punnett squares when he learned how they could help parents understand genetic diseases.
Skyler's PBL experience ignited a passion for photography.
By high school, Skyler was a successful photographer with a large Instagram following, sponsorships from companies like Coleman and Valvoline, and a photo published in Time magazine.
Skyler credits PBL with his success, saying it made him a lifelong learner.
Ryan uses Skyler's story to illustrate how PBL can transform students' lives.

He then explains three reasons why PBL is best for kids:
PBL gives a context for learning.
PBL goes beyond rote memorization and skill drills by providing students with real-world applications for their learning.
PBL provides students with "handles" or contexts to help them understand the concepts they are learning.
PBL is particularly beneficial for students in Title I schools who may lack the background knowledge and context to succeed in traditional learning environments.
It is a myth that students need to learn the basics before they can engage in PBL. In fact, students need PBL to effectively learn the basics.
PBL shows students how their work matters.
PBL empowers students by giving them a voice and showing them that they can make a difference in their community.
When students see the impact of their work, they become more engaged and motivated.
PBL introduces students to slices of life that they might not know exist.
PBL brings community partners into the classroom, exposing students to a variety of careers and life experiences.
Meeting professionals from different fields helps students to envision themselves in those roles and expands their career aspirations.
PBL provides students with opportunities they may not have otherwise had.
Ryan encourages listeners to visit whatispbl.com for a free set of resources to get started with PBL.

He concludes the episode by highlighting how PBL gives students hope and introduces them to a brand new future.
Magnify Learning - www.magnifypbl.com
10 min
December 13, 2024E2 - How to Love Teaching Again
This episode focuses on why Project Based Learning (PBL) helps you teach like you've always wanted.
The host, Ryan Steuer, begins by discussing his background as a former engineer at a Fortune 50 company and his transition to teaching. He realized that content knowledge is not the only thing needed for success, but skills such as teamwork, presentation skills, problem-solving, critical thinking, and idea generation are essential for career advancement.

Ryan found that traditional teaching methods were not effective in helping his students develop these skills.

After switching to PBL, he observed a significant positive change in his students. He provides an anecdote of a student group that was able to effectively communicate with a community partner for 45 minutes.

Ryan presents three reasons why PBL is best for teachers:
PBL allows teachers to teach in the way they have always wanted to teach. It allows them to realize their dreams of changing the lives of their learners. Ryan encourages teachers to resist the cynicism that surrounds the teaching profession and to believe that they can make a difference.
PBL promotes growth in teachers. As teachers implement PBL and focus on employability skills, they start to embody these practices themselves, leading to personal and professional growth. Ryan highlights the importance of a growth mindset in PBL.
PBL enhances relationships. Not only does PBL strengthen relationships with students, but it also fosters meaningful connections with community partners from diverse professions. This expands both the teacher's and the students' understanding of the world. PBL also transforms relationships with fellow teachers as they collaborate and share their experiences.
Ryan encourages listeners to visit PBL schools and ask teachers how PBL has changed their lives.

The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to visit the website whypbl.com to learn more about why teachers love PBL.

Resources
Whypbl.com - Hear from classroom teachers and students why PBL is important for our classroom right now.
Magnify Learning - www.magnifypbl.com
11 min
December 13, 2024E3 - How to Grow as a PBL Teacher
How to Grow As a PBL Teacher
The main idea of this episode is how teachers can grow as PBL teachers.
The host uses the example of Southport Elementary School, a Title 1 school in Indiana. Southport Elementary had the highest growth in the state on standardized tests.
A common misconception is that high test scores are a result of "skill and drill," but research does not support this.
PBL research shows that Title 1 students can excel with PBL because of the additional context and connections the projects provide.
Southport Elementary increased student engagement, rigor, and context by using PBL.
The episode emphasizes the importance of teachers taking on a growth mindset to help their students develop one as well.
The host, Ryan Steuer, suggests three main actions for teachers to grow as PBL teachers:
Action 1: Establish your values. Steuer recommends a protocol from James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits. This protocol has teachers select 10 core values, narrow it down to five, and then post those values somewhere as a reminder.
Action 2: Gain comfort with the spectrum of control. Ryan points out the importance of student ownership but cautions against giving students complete control too soon. He presents a spectrum of control, from teachers having all the control to students having all the control. He then uses an analogy from Trevor MacKenzie, the author of Inquiry Mindset, of a swimming pool, where the shallow end represents teacher-driven instruction and the deep end is student-driven.
Action 3: Change at different speeds. Ryan acknowledges that teachers will change at different rates and recommends thinking about changes in three categories: what to change immediately, what to change eventually, and what to change in the long term. Examples of immediate changes include seating arrangements. Examples of eventual changes include the length of direct instruction and developing group contracts. Examples of long-term changes include grading processes and giving up traditional grading practices, such as assigning zeros.
Resources
Join 4,000+ classroom teachers by signing up for a weekly email with three main resources (blog, podcast, and YouTube Video).
Magnify Learning - www.magnifypbl.com
13 min
December 13, 2024E4 - 3 Steps to Starting Your PBL Journey
3 Steps to Starting Your PBL Journey
Ryan uses a personal anecdote to introduce the idea that everyone taking on a new challenge starts by "crawling, walking, and then running."
The main idea of the episode is that teachers should give themselves grace as they implement PBL, as there will be setbacks and failures along the way.
There are three main stages to implementing PBL:
Crawling: Teachers new to PBL should start slowly, by implementing protocols and strategies they may have seen at professional development or online.
Walking: In this stage, teachers begin to use the resources and structures of PBL, such as the six steps of PBL, in their classrooms.
Running: Teachers in this stage have successfully implemented PBL in their classrooms and are confident using protocols and strategies.
Teachers should embrace failure as a part of the process and use it as an opportunity to grow. This can also help students to develop a growth mindset.
Transparency is a key component of successful PBL implementation. Teachers should be open with their students about the challenges they are facing and work together to find solutions.
The host encourages listeners who are ready to "run" with PBL to join the PBL Movement Online Community.
The next episode in the series will focus on building a classroom culture that supports PBL.
Resources
Join hundreds of classroom teachers in the PBL Movement Online Community
PBL Masterclass for Teachers
Magnify Learning - www.magnifypbl.com
9 min
December 13, 2024E5 - How to Build a Winning Classroom Culture
How to Build a Winning Classroom Culture
Podcast Summary: This episode discusses how to build a winning classroom culture through 3 mindset shifts: transparency, asset-based classroom development, and relationship building.
Key Points:
Ryan starts by sharing an anecdote about a student, Maria, who didn't speak during the "connections" activity in his advisory class for an entire semester. Maria eventually felt comfortable enough to participate, and the class celebrated her contribution.
Ryan then introduces the three mindset shifts that can help create a winning classroom culture: transparency, asset-based classroom development, and relationship building.
Ryan emphasizes the importance of being transparent with students about the learning process and being open to learning alongside them.
He encourages teachers to focus on students' strengths and assets rather than their deficits. He illustrates this point with an example of a teacher complaining about students not knowing compound sentences. Ryan argues that teachers should focus on what students do know (like how to write a complete sentence) and build upon those skills.
Ryan also stresses the importance of building relationships with students and teaching them how to build relationships with each other. He suggests using protocols, structures, and activities to help students develop their relationship-building skills.
Ryan concludes by highlighting the importance of these mindset shifts for creating a positive and productive learning environment.
Call to Action:
Ryan encourages listeners to participate in a free PBL Simplified book study. He suggests inviting other teachers to join the book study to learn together and create solutions for their school.
Ryan also asks listeners to rate and review the podcast.
Resources
PBL Simplified Book Study and Resources
Magnify Learning - www.magnifypbl.com
11 min
December 13, 2024E6 - Get Your Students On Board (not Bored)
How PBL Brings Engagement
Get Your Students on Board (not Bored!)
This episode focuses on how to get students on board with Project Based Learning (PBL).

Teachers may encounter resistance from students accustomed to traditional, passive learning environments.

Three warnings to keep in mind as you transition your students to PBL:
They may not be ready to take initiative or solve problems independently.
Teachers should guide them and provide opportunities to develop agency.
Think of this transition as “hurting cats” becoming “hurting tigers.”
Give students choices and involve them in decision-making processes.
Encourage them to take ownership of the classroom environment.
This helps them take ownership of their learning.
It is important to use failure as a learning opportunity.
Help students develop resilience and a growth mindset.
Help them develop the language of agency and ownership to work through failures.
Agency: Students need to be taught how to be empowered learners.
Ownership: Students need to feel a sense of ownership over their learning.
Failure: Students (and teachers) will experience failure.
Real-world problem-solving is a cornerstone of authentic PBL.

Book Recommendation: Life's a Project: The Six A's of Project-Based Learning by Andrew Larson.
Andrew Larson is a PBL educator and master storyteller.
A free book study is also available.
Get the book here
The next episode will discuss how to engage with the real world without becoming overwhelmed.

Listeners are encouraged to rate and review the show.
Resources
Life's a Project Book Study
Magnify Learning - www.magnifypbl.com
11 min
December 13, 2024E7 - Make or Break Your PBL
Make or Break your PBL
Key Points and Ideas
Ryan shares a story about a failed service-learning project with his 8th-grade students involving sending canned goods to Africa. He learned that the students needed more guidance and that he should have brought the "why" closer to home.
Real-world problem-solving is the key to successful Project Based Learning (PBL). The closer to home the problem, the more students will be invested in finding solutions.
Teachers should partner with community organizations to find authentic problems that students can help solve. Students can then see the impact their work is having on their community.
Driving questions are essential for PBL. They should be real and relevant to students' lives. They should include:
a role the student will play
an action the student will take
the outcome of their action
Teachers should not be afraid to fail. Failure is an opportunity to learn and grow.
The host distinguishes between “scenario” PBL projects and authentic projects. He argues that only authentic projects that involve students in real-world problem-solving are effective.
Teachers should still teach content in PBL. Content is essential for students to be able to solve problems.
Students need to feel “whelmed,” not overwhelmed.
Call to Action: Follow Magnify Learning on Facebook and Instagram
Next Episode: How workshops allow teachers to provide student-centered, inquiry-based experiences
Resources
Join the Magnify Learning Facebook & Instagram Bootcamps, Resources, and Updates
Magnify Learning - www.magnifypbl.com
14 min
December 13, 2024E8 - The Heart of PBL (or at least a ventricle)
Workshops and PBL
This episode focuses on using workshops as a primary means of delivering content in a PBL unit. Ryan Steuer, the host, uses a personal anecdote about a student named Brooke who skipped a workshop on compound complex sentences because she found the description unexciting. This anecdote leads into a discussion of mandatory versus voluntary workshops. Ryan then offers three key tips for teachers using workshops in PBL.
Key Concepts
Workshops as the "heart" of PBL: Workshops are a central component of PBL, serving as a space for delivering content, fostering mastery, and addressing specific student needs.
Need-to-know workshops: Workshops should be driven by student "need-to-knows" that emerge from the entry event and engagement with the project's driving question and rubric.
Mandatory vs. Voluntary Workshops: While voluntary workshops may work for some students, mandatory workshops ensure all students receive necessary instruction, especially on key standards or concepts.
Repurposing Traditional Materials: Teachers can adapt existing materials like quizzes, labs, and activities for use in PBL workshops, connecting them to the project's real-world context.
Student and Community Partner-Led Workshops: To increase student engagement and ownership, students who have mastered a topic can lead workshops for their peers, and community partners can offer expertise related to the project. However, scaffolding and structure are essential for successful student or community partner-led workshops.
Call to Action
Download the PBL vs. Project comparison chart from the show notes.
Listen to the next episode about designing effective entry events.
Rate and review the podcast.
Additional Notes:
The host mentions that state testing scores tend to improve in PBL environments, even compared to traditional "skill and drill" approaches. He plans to share specific examples in future episodes.
Resources
PBL vs a Project Visual
Magnify Learning - www.magnifypbl.com
12 min
December 13, 2024E9 - Entry Events - Win the First One
Entry Events are the first step in a any PBL unit.
Mindset is incredibly important in PBL, and teachers need to be excited and optimistic about the project.
3 Key Entry Event Moves to Ensure Engagement and Clarity:
Rubrics communicate expectations.
Use real world parameters.
Creativity exists within parameters.
Use your content area language to show the importance of the content and how it applies to the real world.
Bring in a community partner to ask learners for help. This will make the project feel real-world and important.
Sprinkle breadcrumbs and connect to the rubric. This provides clarity and helps students stay focused.
Use disciplinary literacy. Don't be afraid to use big words to challenge learners.
Need to Knows come from students' questions and curiosity.
Workshops can be used to teach students the skills they need to solve the problem.
Entry Events can be used in traditional teaching as well.
Review the podcast: Ryan asks listeners to leave a review to help other educators find the podcast.
The show notes highlight the importance of entry events in PBL and provide specific steps teachers can take to create engaging and effective entry events. The notes emphasize the importance of mindset, real-world connections, and student inquiry in PBL.
Call to Action
Would it be too much to ask to have you take 2 minutes to leave a review? It helps the next innovative teacher find this podcast. Thank you for the help in spreading the movement!
Magnify Learning - www.magnifypbl.com
12 min

About Binge PBL for Teachers by Magnify Learning

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WHAT: 20 Episode Podcast (15 Minutes or less) to Give TEACHERS an Overview of Project Based Learning

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