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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 This PBL Leadership episode is about increasing your PBL knowledge. The big question that people often ask is how to bring PBL to my school or district. I'm going to talk about doing PBL well in a way that makes it sustainable for your school or district. Building PBL knowledge is the main focus today.

People often ask if their PBL unit has to revolve around a real problem. We have strong feelings about this, and I discuss why you need to bring authenticity to the classroom in today’s “need to know”. In our PBL Jumpstart or certification we talk about real problems that need to be solved, because authenticity turns into aspirations. 

Episode Highlights: 

[02:20] "Need to Know" Does your PBL unit have to revolve around real world problems? We actually think it does need to be a real world problem that brings authenticity to your classroom. 

[02:48] When you go through PBL Jumpstart or Certification, we are going to be talking about real problems that need to be solved.

[03:14] You don't want to skill and drill learners that are behind in the language arts because the context and authenticity gives them extra handholds to pin their learning to. 

[06:42] As a leader, you should have some knowledge around Project Based Learning. Listening to this podcast is a great start. 

[08:59] As you build your PBL knowledge, you also start to ask the right questions. Where do standards fit? How do your Community Partners tie in?

[11:04] At some point, you're going to want to visit a PBL school. Bring the stakeholders that matter most for school change. 

[15:48] Once you build your knowledge, bring others alongside you like your teachers. 

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 Can you sum up your life or express your feelings in six words? Surprisingly, a simple six-word statement can be used to share your story, emotions, dreams, or just what you’re thinking about right now. Larry Smith is the founder and editor of SMITH Magazine and the man behind Six-Word Memoirs®. This movement has evolved into books, an app, a game, and a great way to get people to write.

Larry is incredibly passionate about education and shares great insights into his Six in Schools program that supports teachers with guides and resources for using this concept with their students. There is even a pilot program where this method eventually leads to a book. Larry breaks everything down in his own words, and his passion for the program is contagious. 

Episode Highlights: 

[02:14] Larry started this movement to get the essence of any or all of your life. He wanted to create an entity that's about regular people telling stories. He created Smith Magazine. A story project that worked as describing your life in six words or less. 

[06:44] What started as a way to tell a story became a method to get people started with telling their story. It blossomed as a writing prompt in the education space. 

[11:00] This method inspires success! Blank pages are scary for everyone. Six words will get you through the blank page. 

[16:43] It's one more tool in the tool box for teachers.

[19:27] The Simplicity of six words is also great to onboard kids with disabilities. Show examples to get kids started. It's just one little slice of life.

[23:51] You can also theme out the six words or use it as an ice breaker.

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 Dr. Dan Kreiness from Leader of Learning is an instructional leader, podcast host, author, and speaker. He constantly looks for ways to advance education and produce high student learning. His dissertation was “Transformational Leadership to Inspire Growth Mindset in Classroom Teachers.”

We dive into transformational leadership and what could hold teachers and students back. We talk about having a balance of technology in the classroom and how to alleviate teacher resistance to creating a student-centered classroom. He also shares some student stories and the best way to start getting teachers comfortable with Project Based Learning. 

Episode Highlights: 

[02:35] Dan wanted to find a way for school leaders to help combat teacher resistance to change. He also wrote his dissertation on this and having a growth mindset. 

[04:59] We're still seeing teachers who are resistant to turning time over to students and trusting and empowering them.

[05:51] Dan's “why” is to help educators grow their impact as instructional leaders.

[08:12] Dan shares an amazing student story that helps illustrate why he is so passionate about growth and impact.

[12:42] He has great guests on his Leader of Learning podcast. Dan brings guests that will teach him a lot. He's also noticed that teacher's are struggling with instructional technology.

[14:52] Students will need to use technology for future readiness. You need to find a balance with blended learning.

[18:31] To implement Project Based Learning, you have to get teachers and staff comfortable with releasing control over to the students.

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 This is the second part of my deep dive into the Lucas Research Study on Project Based Learning. You can find the first part in episode 88. The research findings absolutely dispel the myth that PBL doesn’t improve test scores. Project Based Learning improves AP test scores for high school students and creates noticeable gains in middle school and elementary school students.

It also increased engagement for the teachers. Having a culture with sustained professional learning and coaching for teachers and staff creates an environment where PBL is done right and increases outcomes and enjoyment for learners and teachers. The study shows that PBL was beneficial for all learners and staff. 

Episode Highlights: 

[02:10] "Need to Know" - How does our PBL school get better throughout the school year? 

[02:50] Having a staff member or PBL coach that specifically looks at Project Based Learning and supports the staff is essential. 

[04:51] Administrators also need an administrative coach. You need someone outside of your staff and district to push you.

[06:04] Project Based Learning boosts student learning in AP courses.

[07:48] Many of the participants were from underserved communities, and the study was created to help promote equity. The program increased test performance when using Project Based Learning.

[08:31] The myth that Project Based Learning does not enhance test scores has been flipped on its head. 

[09:37] Your staff has to have professional learning in order to implement PBL properly.

[10:24] PBL also led to gains in math, science, and vocabulary learning for middle schoolers. The teachers were also more engaged.

[14:48] PBL is beneficial for all students.

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 How do you implement PBL as a district? I’m hijacking another PBL Showcase episode to talk about this important question. School leaders need to build their PBL knowledge through books,  resources, and even visiting a school that has implemented PBL. I also talk about the steps that you can use to implement PBL such as design days, PBL core team, being an advocate, and observing.

Our “need to know” is a continuation of last week’s episode about deep research on Project Based Learning by Lucas Research. This research backs up another huge impact of PBL. It states that adding rigorous PBL to advanced placement courses improves student achievement on AP exams. There’s a perception that PBL doesn’t help with things like high stakes exams. This research dispels that myth. 

Episode Highlights: 

[03:38] The Lucas Research Study talks about Project Based Learning being authentic, having an inquiry-based approach, and exploring real-world problems.

[03:52] This research backs up where we have the biggest impact. Adding rigorous PBL to advanced placement courses, improves student achievement on AP exams. PBL also improves science skills and social and emotional learning.

[04:52] Students thrive with hands-on inquiry-based learning and have better test scores.

[11:03] As a school leader, build your PBL knowledge with books and resources or visit a school that's already implemented PBL.

[12:15] Create design days to spell out what your project will look like. What do you want your graduates to know?

[13:37] What would your three year plan look like?

[13:56] Create a PBL core team to find out if PBL will work in your district or school.

[15:01] Be a PBL advocate for your facilitators. Look at your evaluation form and make PBL a positive. 

[16:45] Observe PBL in action. See what's happening and make sure it aligns with your vision.

[17:30] How can you find community partners or get grants for your projects? Make connections and support the project as it moves forward. 

[17:52] Build PBL awareness. Do parents and community partners know about Project Based Learning? 

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 I’ve seen lives turned around by Project Based Learning. I have loads of success stories from learners, teachers, and administrators. There is also research to back up the benefits of Project Based Learning. This leadership episode is going to be a two-part episode focusing on Research on Project Based Learning by Lucas Education Research. The brief is linked to in the resources below.

This episode takes a high-level view, and then I break it down in the upcoming episode 90 as we take a deeper look. We also have a “need to know” that focuses on the question of where do I get started with PBL? I share a free resource in the show notes and other options for learning about Project Based Learning. I also share the best way to learn by visiting a school and seeing it in action. 

Episode Highlights: 

[02:54] Where do I get started with PBL? Educate yourself with books, podcasts, videos, and visiting a school that is doing PBL.

[04:01] On your visit ask good questions and be sure to talk to the learners.

[05:55] It's a powerful lever for improving equity. When it's used significant learning occurs. 

[07:05] The study shows that when underserved students engage in PBL they learn significantly.

[09:22] Learners miss out on opportunities and authentic learning experiences when not involved in Project Based Learning.

[11:59] Curriculum needs to be flexible enough to pull in additional resources to help your students connect it to the work. Connections are a huge benefit.

[13:06] Belonging in the school community. We need to build the culture so students are in a safe environment.

[15:37] PBL also creates strong learning opportunities for teachers. Sustained high-quality professional learning. 

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 Danny Bauer from Better Leaders Better Schools is here to continue our conversation about leaders, confidence, and competence. Danny is the host of the Better Leaders, Better Schools podcast and the author of The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap and Mastermind.  We talk about visioning your work by focusing on your vision for yourself first. Danny shares what a Ruckus Maker is and creative ideas for achieving success by coloring outside the lines. We also talk about setting up your staff for success and having an alignment of resources. 

Episode Highlights: 

[03:43] In 2019, Danny's publisher asked him to write a book about how he serves leaders. This book tells the story of the leadership community in his mastermind group. 

[05:08] He talks about why masterminds are a solution for creating powerful leaders and introduces the ABC's of powerful professional development. Integrating authenticity, belonging, and challenge in a meaningful way leads to life and leadership transformation.

[07:25] A tip for making conferences better is to block off an extra day for journaling and making an action plan.

[07:37] Masterminds happen more often, such as weekly, and you are with other people who understand what you're trying to do. You can have regular deep thinking on education and leadership while strengthening relationships. 

[08:57] Danny shares an example of one of his mastermind leaders that is winning and creating success. 

[11:44] Masterminds can be a space where you can bounce ideas off of other leaders. 

[12:32] The idea of being a Ruckus Maker is a tip to Seth Godin. 

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 In this leadership episode, we are talking about building confidence in your staff. How great do you think your building would be running once you've launched your vision and become a confident leader with a confident staff? You can build confidence by starting with the wins and pointing out the positive aspects of portions of PBL projects. 

We also have an opening need to know about how to get your staff PBL Certified. Having PBL Certified teachers in your school will revolutionize education. It will also trickle down to your new hires, because they will be training experts. Once you have PBL experts in your school it will spread to the rest of the teachers and staff.  

Episode Highlights: 

[01:38] How do I get my staff PBL certified? 

[02:57] Through our PBL Certification at Magnify Learning, we get to change our relationship with you. When people become certified, we become partners at creating awesomeness.

[05:01] Think of PBL Jumpstart as making it to the middle of a mountain. PBL advanced will take you a little further. To get to the top, you would become PBL certified. 

[08:21] When we talked about you being a confident leader, we talked about focusing on your wins. Where did you have effort, success, and progress?

[09:49] If you're just starting PBL in your school, point out a place where there was success like with a community partner to build confidence.

[11:08] Mine the positives when there is pushback. Point out the positive and the success. A confident mindset focuses on the positive. 

[13:09] Build confidence in your staff, so they will go into the training already thinking it's going to be great.

[13:51] What's your why as an educator and as a school? Remind them of their why. 

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 I have an exciting and personal PBL showcase today about a young man coasting in school until a PBL unit inspired him to step up and become the leader he was meant to be. It’s a PBL unit about helping parents get their questions answered after their child's genetic disease diagnosis. They want to know if their child will be okay and everything else they can learn about the condition. 

That’s where my class of 8th graders jumped in, and a remarkable young man named Skyler Wagoner stepped up. The idea of helping people motivated him to be the learner and leader he was meant to be. You’ll also enjoy my answer to today’s “need to know” about what type of professional development you should be doing this summer. 

Episode Highlights: 

[01:13] Need to know: What kind of professional development should I be doing over the summer?

[01:19] You should probably get some rest. Leaders and staff both need to take care of themselves. Teachers need to take care of themselves, because they just had a rough year.

[01:51] Leadership always flows downhill and self-care is the first step. Take a break and maybe try some active rest like an activity you enjoy.

[03:15] Decide if you want to jump into an in-person workshop. True collaboration comes with people. Find some good books to read. 

[07:27] My favorite PBL unit is the genetics unit. Everyday some parents find out that their child has a genetic disease.

[07:49] 1. They want to know if their child is going to be okay. 2. They want to find out everything they can about the disease. 

[08:26] Being an eighth grader is a hopeful time where they can make a big shift. We asked 8th graders how we can best help these parents.

[10:16] This project showed Skyler, who was smart but underachieving, that he could help people. When he became engaged, he was a great leader.

[12:57] Seeing this is why I wanted to get involved in education.

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