As a leader, it’s essential to build your core learning team when introducing PBL to your school. You want PBL to empower learners and not go away when you leave. Having a core learning team will help with the sustainability of your PBL program. I talk about the three keys for PBL sustainability in your school. You don’t want to do it alone. People follow the first follower instead of the leader. You need local examples for your core team and teachers to follow. 

I also talk about a need to know that I get asked often: “What does Project Based Learning look like in kindergarten?” Besides being incredibly cute to see the kids dressed up and speaking to the audience, PBL in kindergarten is filled with impact. They learn to communicate with community partners, and the parents get to be the authentic audience which is a treat for everyone. 

Episode Highlights: 

[02:03] "Need to Know": What does Project Based Learning look like in kindergarten? Answer: Ridiculously cute and insanely impactful. 

[02:40] There's magic that happens when Project Based Learning is brought into the kindergarten classroom. 

[03:57] The kids are fired up. The kids that normally act out will sit and listen to the community partner. 

[05:09] The kids get to ask questions and the authentic audience is the learner's parents. The kids learn to speak in front of an audience.

[08:49] Every Project Based Learning leader should have a PBL learning team for three sustainability keys.

[09:01] Key #1 You can't bring Project Based Learning in alone, and you wouldn't want to.

[10:38] Key #2 People follow the first follower, not the leader. 

[13:29] Key #3 You need local examples of Project Based Learning. Now your next group of teachers have something to reference.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

 In this guest episode, I'm interviewing coach John Bacon. He's the author of Let Them Lead. Coach Bacon took the worst team in hockey and turned them around. He was able to empower his players and make them a winning team. It's a great story, and I recommend you listen to the audio version. Hearing the coach tell the story almost makes it seem like a movie, but it's real life.

Our "need to know" connects with our conversation with the coach today. It's all about the question of where does culture fit in with Project Based Learning. Every school has a culture. Like my annual canoeing trip, culture is like the river's current. Your culture is always moving whether you intend it to or not. Adding initiatives like Project Based Learning helps impact your culture positively.

Episode Highlights: 

[03:19] A positive culture helps build momentum. Culture is like the current taking your school down the river. 

[06:16] Nothing gives Coach Bacon more satisfaction than teaching and coaching. He speaks and writes but teaching is in his family.

[07:46] Coach Bacon’s team, the River Rats, was ranked dead last. In three years, he turned the team around and ranked number 53 in the nation passing 1203 teams.

[10:33] Coach Bacon's book, Let Them Lead is currently being turned into a screenplay. 

[11:31] Lesson 1. Make it special to play for the team. Making it hard is the easiest way to make it special.

[14:13] They were the hardest working team in America and not one player quit.

[17:53] Never tell your people what they can't do. Coach Bacon shares the story of Darth Nader. 

[20:41] Water all the plants. You don't know who's going to grow when or how far or how big.

[31:37] Coach Bacon advises any principal on the fence about building culture to get off of that fence!

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

 We are talking about two schools today. One had a design plan for bringing in Project Based Learning. The other school didn't have a succession plan. I'm also going to give you the backstory for these design days and how it goes when you have a succession plan and when you don't.

We also dive into concerns about a community partner taking over your class with their own agenda in today’s “need to know.” This can be a real concern, but I’ve never heard of that happening. You bring in the community partner, so you choose a partner that you know well enough that problems won’t happen. 

Episode Highlights: 

[02:23] If you're bringing in a community partner, you should know them well enough to know whether or not they're going to bring their own agenda.

[03:17] Find a person that fits and have the discussion beforehand.

[05:24] The first school brought in PBL. They did great training and had a principal that was fired up. They went through PBL Jumpstart and PBL Advanced. They did amazing things and really served their learners. 

[06:08] They didn't invest in the coaching at the administrative level to create a succession plan. When the principal moved on PBL disappeared.

[08:43] What are the systems and processes that are in place that aren't just built around you as a dynamic leader?

[12:33] You need time to think about the plans and the processes for your specific customized environment. Have a future plan in place, so when you move on your work doesn't die.

[14:15] Put out your North Star and create grassroots momentum by inviting people into your vision.

[17:21] Living the Project Based Learning process engages students, learners, principals and superintendents. The mindset goes through every level when living out this process on every level.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

 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. 

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

 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. 

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

 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.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

 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.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

 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.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

 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? 

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

 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. 

Resources & Links Related to this Episode