This PBL Showcase will feature excerpts from teachers I interviewed during a PBL Jumpstart. I was able to talk to them on their third day to get some of their thoughts. We'll hear things like, I used to think this, but now I believe this, so we'll see mindset shifts. In a PBL Jumpstart, you get to live out PBL while creating a PBL unit. 

Our "need to know" for today is based on this question: I'm a social studies teacher. How do I connect my subject matter to relevant topics now? The teachers are experts in the field. Just asking the question in a little different way enables teachers to find a way to relate their lessons with the lives of kids today to help the kids feel more engaged and to work with community partners to add employability skills. 

Episode Highlights: 

[02:22] Can teaching ancient history solve a real world problem? You are the expert who would know the answer to this question. How could you make the lesson relevant to make the students more engaged? How would you bring in a community partner for employability skills?

[03:19] Asking this question in just a little bit of a different way enables social study teachers to connect their lessons to kids' lives today. 

[04:16] Don't let community partners be a hurdle. You can bring in someone local that has knowledge on the topic. 

[07:35] Christine Guthrie used to think PPL was engaging, but now she knows it's empowering. She has a structure to engage 21st century skills while empowering lifelong learning.

[07:51] Ethan used to think PBL was centered around a project. Now he thinks it's centered around a solution.

[08:00] Carl used to think PBL would be stressful and hard for students and himself. Now he thinks it will be a good process to engage students.

[08:19] Kristen thought PBL would make it hard to hit their standards, now she thinks she'll hit them in a more meaningful way.

[11:52] I also have four more teachers for you to hear from. You'll notice a theme from them about how they now realize how valuable the community partner aspect is. 

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