Alison Kern is a 6th grade science teacher who rocks authenticity. She's been PBL certified through Magnify Learning and has been through several different trainings including PBL Jumpstart, PBL Advanced, and the entire PBL Certification process. On this PBL Showcase, we get to follow Alison’s PBL journey with her class.

She had five different groups of learners that she did this PBL process with. We learn all about what her PBL Unit was and how it’s possible to focus on big processes and use the same grading process for different content. We also learn some of the genius ideas and solutions that the learners came up with. We talk about contracts, structure, and how PBL helps disengaged learners become engaged. 

Episode Highlights: 

[03:07] EDP or engineering design process in the office. The standards they focused on were engineering process and general design, including how to go back and improve the project.

[04:16] The question was how do we as engineers create something to help the office staff have a more fluid day. The principal, secretary, nurse, etc. we're bombarded with too many little tasks. They wanted to improve their daily actions.

[05:02] Each worker came in and posed a problem to the classroom. The secretaries wanted a solution to the lost and found problem. The Learners developed a system to help with this task.

[05:54] They set up a camera and recorded what would happen with planted lost items in the hallway. They then set up a prototype and put a bin out.

[06:39] Another class partnered with the counselor and the life skills teacher to create fidget toys which turned out to be helpful for all the students.

[10:19] Alison shares the group contracts and structure for starting PBL. 

[16:56] It's important to make solutions attainable.

[17:54] PBL is a great way to give kids a connection and a reason to come to school. 

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