Project Based Learning: Making Education Personal

Matthew Blazek

A Sample of Projects for a Digital Portfolio

Matthew Blazek

Copyright 2012 by Matthew Blazek All rights reserved. Pleaseshare your experiences. Share these samples. As owner of this book, you have permission to make photocopies for your students and for teachers who want to learn more about projects. The samples that appear here are available on a digital file by requesting the sample from TheEbookman@gmail.comor by visiting TransformTeaching.org. The posters that appear in this book are for your use. The posters take up space on pages 6-8 and 21-28, where the lesson plans are omitted. Pages 51-54 are some posters developed from the work of Dan Pink with his permission. Pages 59-64 include items from Dr. Abraham S. Fischler's blog and the 50 Words Project created by Hans Hickler. ISBN-13: 978-1480282339 ISBN-10: 1480282332

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Table of Contents
Introduction Grading Rubric Research Paper Poster Timeline Presentation Video/Documentary Interview Website Wikipedia Classroom Wiki Biography Autobiography Genealogy Article/Editorial Facebook Profile Linkedln Profile Twitter Feed Synopsis Journal Blog Poetry Song Theater Art Project Create a Country Create a Business Write a Bill , 4 4 6 7 8 9 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28

29 37 44 48 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58

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Experiment Fairs Stock Market Personal Finance Resources Glossary Index References

59 62 60 61 62 64 65 66

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Introduction
There are many approaches to teaching and learning that are used within our classrooms. Some methods are more effective than others overall and others are often disparaged. Project based learning happens to be a style that comes under intense scrutiny and ridicule at times, often being thought of as the lazy way out for teachers because the student is expected to complete the project to learn instead of the teaching preparing and delivering lessons. This is where this guide comes. By using this guide, the aim is to eliminate the "easy way out" stereotype that has come to represent project based learning. The intent of projects according to this guide is for students to demonstrate mastery of a topic in a personal way- through an independently researched and personally created project. Hence the title: Project Based Learning: Making it Personal. Traditional models of lecture and test, which have come to dominate education in this age of standardized testing, do not adequately prepare students for life after school. The workplace does not rely on multiple-choice tests to gauge success. Instead, it measures performance through the ability of the person to complete and master assigned tasks, often with little guidance. In this sense, the person must become an expert on the topic of their work (whether it is the menu at McDonald's or the load calculations for a new bridge) and be prepared to demonstrate that expertise at any time for employers or clients. Essentially, life is one huge project that begins at birth and ends at death. Only at rare occasions outside of educational system will a person ever need to master the five paragraph essay or the testtaking skills necessary for success on multiple-choice tests. Instead, a person will have to repeatedly demonstrate mastery of the skills needed in their field through the completion of projects or tasks in a timely and efficient manner. So let's get away from the lecture and test mentality and move back into reality. It is time to truly prepare students for life and not merely prepare them to attend educational institutions. Real world skills need to be emphasized and mastered so students are able to move into the next stage of their lives. Let's put the student first and change education for the better by following through on the purpose of this book: MAKING EDUCATION PERSONAL!

Grading Rubric
It is important for students to understand the goals of projects before they begin their project. Considering that it is impossible to be successful without having clear expectations established, each project discussed also includes a suggested grading rubric. There are several important features to each rubric. The first is that an explanation of each category is provided as well as the performance expectation of the category. Additionally, when students receive their final score they will be able to

Project Based learning

receive consistent feedback because it is already provided. Finally, it decreases bias and allows for several different people to provide grades that are consistent because the standards are clearly stated.

Project Based Learning

Research Paper

The teacher of the future

will be lDore like a guide on the side than a sage on the stage.

Dennis Yuzenas, WhatDo YaKnow.com

Project Based learning

Poster

I hope that students will be encouraged to be creative, not conforming, and learn to cooperate rather than compete.
Ernest Boyer, president of Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 1993.

Commentary: My test is asking the following question: Have we produced a motivated person with the tools and desire to keep learning? - Dr. A. S. Fischler

Project Based learning

Ttmeline

Children are working as if I did not exist.

Maria Montessori

Conunentary: Students can be selfmotivated, interested in the problem that they are working on, and helping one another sharing responsibilities. This will happen when students work together in small groups on projects. You need a certain level of comprehension which the Computer-Assisted Instruction delivers. Piaget says that we redefine a concept every time we meet a discrepant

event: An event for the learner that doesn't:fit the concept that he already has. So the learner has to go through questions: Did that really exist? How do I Inodify the concept to accornrnodate the new inforrnation? Students go through this when they learn that electrons might not be particles. Electrons act more like clouds in certain circumstances. - Dr. A. S. Fischler

Project Based learning

Presentation
The value of a presentation cannot be over stated. Students need to develop oral communication skills to be effective in most work environments. for me to be presented in front of the class. I require every project that is created

Project Based learning

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Project Based learning

Video jDocumentary

"The iIIiterate of the 21st century will be those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."
Alvin Toffler
Commentary: Information flows at a much faster rate than it did years ago. Think of Facebook and Twitter. We all must learn and relearn new things as they have implications for our work and understanding of the world we live in. The world is changing and those changes will effect us more quickly than they did before.
- Dr. A. S. Fischler

Project Based Learning

Interview

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You are an agent of change

If you want to see change in education, you have to do it (not just talk about it). You have to bring a group of people together. Its going to take years of commitment, argument and debate. You have to demonstrate that you are producing a product that we need.
Transform-Education.com TransformTeaching.org EdutechFoundation.net abe.Theotudcntls'Thef.lass.cor

Project Based learning

Website

One-third of the jobs that will be around ten to fifteen years from now haven't been invented yet. We must educate our children in what no one knew yesterday and prepare our schools for what no one knows yet.
Margaret Mead

Commentary: What can we do if we don't know what we don't know? The education system of the future needs to be flexible, more so than our current system. - Dr. A. S. Fischler

Project Based Learning

Wikipedia

No matter how far you have gone on a wrong road, turn back.
Turkish proverb (from The Big Picture by Dennis Littky)

Commentary: We have invested a lot of money and training in the big-box public high schools. Bill Gates has put a billion dollars or so into making high schools smaller and into technology for education. We need to stop, turn around, and get back to square one. Let's start with elementary schools. By adding a layer of computer-mediated instruction over the existing system and by engaging parents, students, teachers and principals in a vigorous re-connection with the goal of education, we can move toward making the student the class.
Dr. A. S. Fischler

Project Based learning

Classroom Wiki

Education is not

the filling of a pail but rather the lighting of a fire.

W. Yeats
Commentary: More time is now being spent helping students learn at a comprehensive level. Little time is left for the skills of analysis, synthesis and selfjudgment. We put information in but we don't give them time to massage the information and go through Piaget's process of assimilation and accommodation at the concept level.

Commentary: The computer is a tool to be used in many different ways. It is a learning tool, it is a research tool, and it is a communication tool. So it depends on the environment and how it's orchestrated. The student needs time to use information for analysis and synthesis. So the computer could be used for those two purposes. You can reorganize students to solve problems through projects. Small groups can improve their communication skills, working in cooperative teams, sharing research responsibilities, and giving presentations to the entire class. - Dr. Fischler

Q: How can teachers instill this "fire" quote in a school that focuses on computer-based
instruction?

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Biography

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Dennis Yuzenas (VVhatDoYaKnow.com) encourages his high school students to bring their computers into his classroom to do projects, search the Internet and collaborate in teams,
Translorm-Eduration.coui Fdurech Foundation.r let Tmnsfonu'Teaching.on; abe .Thexrude: uls'] 'ileelass.col n

Project Based learning

Autobiography

I never let schooling get in the -way of Illy e du c a ti 0n.

Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

Commentary: What is the goal? To hand students a diploma? To transfer skills to a workforce? I believe that the goal is to produce a motivated person with the tools and desire to keep learning. We need to have the humility to see that we teachers and we principals

don't have all of the tools. Students need to take responsibility for at least part of their learning. Can we shape the classroom and the curriculum to the shape and dimension of the student? - Dr. A. S. Fischler

Project Based learning

Genealogy

17 Principles for Effective Instruction

Why not put this poster on a wall in every classroom? "Hey, teacher, you forgot step 10!"
From an article in American Educator (Spring 2012) by Barak Rosenshine, distributed by UNESCO

Project Based learning

Article /Editorial
The following newsletter was created as the culminating assignment of an introductory college mythology course.

29

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Project Based learning

The Twelve lies of Hercules

By Tiresias
We've all heard the tales of the twelve tabors of Hercules, but none of us have actually heard the truth. As children, we were put to sleep with the tales otthe mighty hero. I believe it is now time to set the record straight The reason that Hercules Was set out to complete these impossible tas.ks is true. In a fit of rage, he killed his own children. As a result, Eurystheus, Hercules' cousin and king of Tiryns, decreed that as penance, Hercules should perform 12 tasks that he himself came up with. This is where the lies begin: The first task Hercules was to perform was to kill the Nemean Uon. Now. this was no ordinary lion, that would be too easy. No, this lion had supematural powers. His skin could not be broken with spear or arrow. How do you kill such a beast? Apparently, with your bare hands. The tale says that Hercules sealed the entrance to the cave in which the lion lived and strangled it. And on top of that, he skinned the lion and wore his skin asa trophy. Now, this is where the discrepancies start. If the lion's skin could not be pierced with arrow or spear, how could it be skinned? Does he lose hls powers once he is dead? For this, there appears to be no answers. Hercules returned to TIryns to receive his next labor. Eurystheus, amazed Hercules had returned, jumped in a barrel and gave him the rest of the challenges from there. His second task: kill the hydra.

They hydra lived in a lair that was impossible for a man to reach, even the mighty Hercules. So, Hercules thought and decided to shoot flaming arrows at the entrance. This drew out the infamous hydra and the battle commenced . The battle seemed to be even at the beginning, even though every time Hercules cut off one of the beast's heads, two grew back. Then, the hydra wrapped his heads around our hero and called upon a giant crab that bit Hercules in the heel, further lessening his chances of survival. Hercules finally escaped from the grasp of the hydra and called on totaus, his nephew who had driven the chariot to the swamp. Hearing his. uncle's cries for help, lolaus jumped off the chariot and grabbed a torch. Together, they went after the mighty hydra. Hercules cut off heads left and right while folaus used the torch to ceutenzethe wounds as soon as the heads were gone. When they finally cut off the immortal head of the hydra, they burled it under a rock. Now, how in the world are two people, armed with only a sword and a torcn, going to manage to cut off every head from the hydra, whom legends say has as many as 1,000. Think about it. The third task for Hercules to perform was to capture the Cerynthian Hind. Now, not only was this doe sacred to Artemis, but it was also incredibly fast Hercules tracked the doe for a full year before he finally cornered it on the banks of the River Laden in Arcadia. Since Hercules did not want to wound the animal, he supposedly shot it between the bone and the tendons of the legs. Pretty impressive shot if you think about it Not only is this deer faster than any other in the world, but it is sacred to the goddess Artemis, who just might care enough to make any arrow shot or spear thrown in t.he direction of this deer go astray. The fourth task Hercules was to accomplish was go back to Arcadia and bring back the Erymenthian Boar. There isn't much

Project Based learning

to this story. Supposedly, Hercules chased the boar to Mt Erymanthus and drove him into a snow bank. This immobilized the boar and Hercules threw him over his shoulders and brought him back to TilYns. So, according to the tale, a huge boar Is running, quite slowly apparently. from a mortal man. Granted, Hercules is the son of a god, but does the boar know that? Odds are against that one. The fifth labor to be performed was that Hercules was to clean the stables of King Augeas in one day. Now, this king had many herds of eatue and his stables had not been cleaned for years. Eurystheus was hoping to see Hercules go in with a shovel, but Hercules had other ideas, Supposedly, Hercules threw huge boulders into two rivers and redirected them to run right through the stables. cleaning them almost instantly. those must have been some pretty well built stables to withstand the force of not one but t\vo rivers raging between their walls. Also, where are the cattle through all this? Who knows? The next requirement was that Hercules had to get rid of the Stymphalian Birds. These birds lived on lake Stymphalus and were said to feast on human flesh. Understandable that these birds were not wanted around, Anyway, these birds could not be reached easily. The marsh was too mucky to walk through and Hercules was to.o heavy to walk on it Solution: rattle castanets received from Athena. This got the birds airborne and Hercules then picked them off one by one. That's some mighty impressive shooting for one man to do. Sound pretty close to impossible? That's because it is.

The seventh labor was to rid Crete's countryside of a raging bull. This particular bull breathed fire and was destroying the beautiful countryside. Apparently, Hercules overpowered the burl and sent him back to

the mainland.
Right, man

overpowering a boll. Would have to see it to believe it. The next accomplishment was to capture the mares of OIomedes. Now, these mares were not velY friendly. They ate any traveler who got dose enough to catch. Hercules had an idea to avoid that fate. He fed them their master, and while they were eating, he herded them to sea. He then brought them to TilYns to show to EUlYstheos. After doing this, Hercules let the mares go. Now, why didn't these mares eat their master before? It woutd make sense, but this doesn't. The ninth task was to retrieve a belt from Hippolyte, the Queen of the Amazons, for Eurystheus' daughter. This sounded kind of risky, so Hercules enlisted the help of some other heroes. Apparently, all Hercules had to do Was ask and the belt was given to him. Hera didn't like this ene bit, so she told the rest of the Amazons that the Greeks had kidnapped their queen. A large battle ensued and Hercules made off with the belt. So, the queen of the Amazons, a race of warrior women that hate men, just gave up her belt to the first man that asked, Maybe

not
Next on Hercules' list was to capture the Cattle of GelYon. These cattle. supposedly, had three heads and three bodies from the waste down. They were also

Project Based learning

guarded by Orthrus, a two-headed dog. In order to accomplish his goal, Hercules killed the dog and then stole the cattle. Then the cattle was brought back to Tiryns. Nice story, probably aU it is though, a story. The next tale requires that Hercules steal the apples of Hesperides. These apples were a wedding present for Hera and were guarded by nymphs. The trees wefe kept behind a high wall and the wall was guarded by Laden, a many-headed dragon. Hercules slew the dragon, but could not retrieve the apples. He called upon the help of Atlas to do that While Hercules held up. the world. Atlas went and stole the apples. Since AHas ha been holding the world for so long, he thought it nice to be getting a break and wanted to let Hercules have the duty for a while. Hercules eventually tricked him into taking over again. Now, let's think about this. First, Hercules killed a dragon. Then he held up the world. A job that was given to one of the titans. How is a mortal man supposed to relieve him of this duty? Then, the normally stow Hercules tricked him into taking the job back. Very, very unlikely. The fast, and probably most unlikely. task ordered upon Hercules was to steal Cerberus from the underworld. The first challenge here Is to cross the River Styx. Charon, the boatman, required two things to be allowed on his boat. The first was you had to be dead and the other was that you had to bribe him with a coin under the corpse's tongue. Hercules, obvIously, met neither of these conditions. Instead, he glowered at Charon fiercely and received passage. The next challenge was Cerberus himself. He had razor sharp tetith, three

heads, a venomous tail and snakes growing out of his hack. He tried to attack Hercules, but could not pierce the infamous lion skin that Hercules was wearing. As a result of his failed attack, Cerberus was choked into submission and drug back to Tiryns. Well, first thing here is that Hercules scared the boatman into passage across Styx simply by glaring at him. This man sees dead people every day and a stare is supposed to spook him? No. Then there is the lion skin agaln, apparently its powers came back and protected Hercules. Please. Things don't work that way. Anyway, those are the 12 mighty feats that Hercules was said to have accomplished. They have all bsen broken down and now, hopefully, the truth will finally come out.

Question of the Month:

Who was turned into a spicier and why?

Answer next month.

; 33

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Oedipus
Hadn't heard much from this former king tumed blind wanderer. We have one or our best int(!lView him and see what's been happening as well as II quick recap of
his life.

Jocasta, my wife, and mother of my children, was also my mother. Crazy! What happened then? um, after we realized what we had done. she killed herself and I blinded myself. I guess none of us did a good enougiljob avoiding fate. Not that that's possible. Yeah, we all know tnst: So, what are you up

Let's start off with just a quick recap of what happened to pulyClJ where you are. Well, I was born in Thebes to the King and Queen; After my birth, they consulted an oracle to see what my life would be like. Apparently the oracle had some bad news, so they decided to leave me in the woods, thinking and hoping I would somehow wind up dead. Well, obviously you didn't. Whathappened? While I was lying in the woods, a shepherd happened to be passing by and saw me. He picked me up and brought me to Corinth, where I was adopted by the King and Queen. Wow, talk about good tac 80m to one liable family iJnd then adopted byanotlJer. Yeah, Isuppose. Anyway, after living with my new family for about 20 years. I went to an oracle to see if I had been adopted. The oracle didn't really answer my question, it just said that I would kif! my father and then many my mother. Now, this did not sound like any fun to me, so I decided to leave Corinth. Where did you think you were going to gQ? Welt, I was headed towards Thebes when this miserable eXCUSefor a man got in my way. He acted like he owned the road, which it turned out he actually did. We got Into a bit of an argument and I killed him in a little squabble. That man turned out to be Lalus, the King of Thebes and my father. Oops, S(), half tlJe prophecy down, what about the rest oOt? Well, I came to Thebes and found out that the Queen was recently widowed. I started courting her and eventually we were married. We have 4 wonderftJl children together. AnyWay, if you haven't figured it out yet.

to now?
After the people of Thebes found out what happened. I pretty much got ran out of town. I guess they didn't want a blind King whose former Wife was his mother and whose kids were also his brothers and sisters.

I Wnk that's a tood bet

Yeah, well, since I had been a member of a royal family for my whole Ufe, I didn't know how to do much. Also, I was blind now, so I couldn't learn a whole lot. So, for the last couple of years, I've just been kind of wandering around, hoping to get a crust of bread or maybe some wine from random people. !sn't that kind of hard? I mean, haven't a lot ofpeople beard your story? Yeah. I remember there was one guy in Chryse who thought I was the most pathetiC thing he'd seen. I mean, he just couldn't stop taunting me. I found out later that he was married to his sister, so he really shouldn't be talking. What's his name, we'll get oar people 011 this rightaway. No, I don't want to cause anyone anymore trouble than I already have, I just hope that people will be kind to me in the future. Don't we all. So, say YOlJ nave it all to do over agiJin. What would you do differently? Well, assuming I can't change fate, , would probably Just cut off my hand or something, At least then I could be of some use to someone, Right now, I just kind of walk into things and hope not to get robbed, not that I have a lotto take.

Project Based learning

Goddess and Child rescued by Dolphins

This story wi!! make you think twice about lying around on the beach,

herself.

last Tuesday, a mother and son decided to take a long planned trip to the beach. Little did they know that this trip was going to put them right in the mouth of danger. Aphrodite and her son, Eros, went to a more beautiful beach than any mortal has ever seen. They did the normal things that a mother and son do on the beach: played in the water, built a sand castle, had a picnic. Apparently they both had a little too much ambrosia with their picnic because they both fell asleep. This was just the chance Typhon was waiting for. As soon as he was the goddess of beauty asleep, Typhon climbed out of hts hole and went towards the shore. crawled onto the beach with one thing on his mind: sex. He didn't care whether she wanted it or not, he was taking it. He took the stunning goddess in his arms and was preparing to follow through with his plans when she awoke and started screaming for help, Eros was aroused by the screams but COUld do nothing to stop the horrible river monster. Fortunately, two dolphins were swimming by and heard the yells for help. They went towards the shore and told the gOddess and her child to get on their backs. Aphrodite managed to escape the monster's clutches long enough to make it to the dolphins where Eros was already waiting. The dolphins then swam them off to safety. As a reward for their death defying tactics, the dolphins will be forever remembered in the glittering sky. The goddess. put them there

Man. What did we do to deserve this?

A study in how and why we are.

He

After the battle between the Titans and Olympians, everyone needed something to do. Since Prometheus and Epjmetheus had sided with Zeus instead of their fellow Titans, they were given the task of creating man. Why these two traitors were given this task, we'll never know, To start things off, Prometheus shaped a man out of mud, and Athena breathed life into the figure. That's the start of us. Not very exciting is it? Anyway, Epimetheus was assigned with giving the creatures of earth al[ of their various characteristics. He decided which animals would be sWift or cunning or strong. It kind of looks like he ran out of good charactElrfstics for us. We should be running this planet. Yet, we are seated of and are forced to run away from many creatures that were given better attributes-than us. Since his brother had foolishly wasted all of the good qualities, Prometheus decided to grve us at least one good quaHty: walking upright. This way, we can look at the sky and don't have to stare at the ground whenever we're walking. Maybe we should be thankful forth at much.

~ 35 Il

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Anyway, Prometheus loved man much more than the rest of the Olympians, so when Zeus decided that man had to present a portion of each animal they sacrificed to the gods, Prometheus tricked him. Prometheus made two piles. one with bones wrapped in juicy fat, the other with the good meat hidden in a hide. Zeus picked the pile he would like man to give to the gods, and of course he fell for the trick. He picked the pile of bones. Since he had given his word, he had to accept this as sacrifice to the gods. In his anger over being tricked, he took fire away from man. Since Prometheus cared for man so much, he Ht a torch and brought It down to man. That, we can surely be thankful for. Imagine where we would be without the gift orflre. This, again. made Zeus very angry'. He did not like the fact that. man had fire again. He stormed around untif someone tofd him how it happened again. Someone told him that Prometheus had given it back and Zeus was enraged. He decided to punish both man and Prometheus. For man, he had Hephaestus create 11 mortal of stunning beauty. All of the gods and goddesses gave this mortal many gifts. Then, Hermes gave the creature a deceptive heart and a lying tongue. The gods named her Pandora, tile first women. She was given one final gift: a jar Which she was forbidden to open. When she was completed, she was sent to Epimetheus, who lived among man. Even though he had been wamed not to accept gifts from Zeus, Ephnetheus allowed Pandora to stay. Eventually, Pandora's curiosity Won her over and she had to know what was in the jar. She

opened the jar and out flew all manner of evils, sorrows, plagues and misfortunes. The only thing that remained in the jar was hope. The punishment for Prometheus was this: Force and Violence seized Prometheus and took him to the Caucasus Mountains. There, they chained him to a rock with unbreakable adamanite chains. While he was chained down, an eagle tormented him day and night by tearing at his liver. There were two ways out of hls punishment: The first was he could teil Zeus the mother of the child that was to dethrone him, The other option was twofold. The first requirement was that an immortal must die for him. EventuaHy, Chiron the Centaur decided to dle for him. The second requirement was that a mortal must kill the eagle and unchain him. Hercules took care of that. Thus the creation of man and the punishment of our creator. Now. why in the world were we punished because Prometheus stole fire? Zeus must have been in a bad mood that day. There is no way that we did enough to anger the gods by sending us a woman who would He to us and ultimately lead to all Unhappiness on this planet This is the history of man. Only the gods know what is in store for the future.

This publication has been brought to you by Chris Blazek.

Project Based learning

Facebook Profile
A Facebook profile is analogous to having a student write a biography or autobiography. A good Facebook Profile can be created within a Word Document, PowerPoint slides, Publisher, or in various Adobe products. The keys to this type of project are the same as another other project- the consolidation of various sources of information into a coherent whole.

Using Facebook allows a student to utilize technology in a more unique way and also be more creative with their presentation of material. Creating a profile means the student will understand the person who is being researched, including: friends, family, travels, home, and the personality of the subject through the use of interests, likes, activities, hobbies, etc. Facebook also contains a timeline, which a student can recreate to identify important activities during the subjects life. This Facebook profile was created by a ninth grade student for a research project on Zeus:

~a lives in Mount Olympus,. Utah

9' In a r:ekmom;hip

ID Add where Y-Ou-wotk

Add yow" u.haoi

Zeus updated fii5 current: dty to t-4our::t Ofympus~ Utah.

Se.Jrll

In the picture above, we can see the creation of some of the key components: friends, family, relationship status, a picture of the subject.

Project Based learning

Having fun with my thunder =)

pose.don greek god how is everything going down there?

Hy father is up to tartarus, my brothers divided earth i got the haaven LIke umnnent

had to punish a human for a crime, thief!!r!! he deserved to die, have fun vfith him Hades

Zeus Om J(H~Q~fY 31

updatf.-d bs pr~ffle picture:~

.il

In a Relationship
January.3l, 2012 If! uke ' Comment

Here we can see some of the timeline features that a student can add, including references to some favorite activities and the establishment of a relationship (with Hera, in this case),

'l' Farnily

('.oojt..e>.'>H~a o,.~~,:!.tMi
;.)!"l,!.'jJ;;Jl~~.'1'>;"1l

1.J?r.e.~~~~

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:.'

edttl :':Al)[S{.,oo ~\i'\:::e ~~~:!.w; o.v.

::'1~:.; 11 I;;Spc.:~-iiIr.t!t!I~

aotcs
Ir.~'!>if

JJ~ v H'.;;., ;:;1~~:m s

1;1,T1A fl((>lI!~i;O.(! ;-,('f!')!{>r5 i':i'{v..,. ('"~'k :t.ir:

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'yfl"""$

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?t.1,!.r.br.::<:.' .i.:~:JM;; q~.
;:"P!':>t 1.~~p.;,O(,!"'i!~t!'u~

38

Project Based learning

Again, these images show aspects of a Facebook profile that show research and knowledge of the subject that this was created for. Allowing students to utilize Facebook provides an alternative for students who do not like writing papers to display their research skills and knowledge of a subject in a manner that is more enjoyable.

Friemls{l}

Of course, no product is finished until it is presented. The following PowerPoint slides were used by the same student to preset Zeus to the class, in addition to navigating the Facebook page.

Project Based learning

Project Based learning

Project Based learning

43

1
j

Project Based learning

Linkedln Profile

Project Based learning

Resume
A resume works well as a prelude to the Linkedln profile or as a substitute for a biographical paper. The resume displays student knowledge and understanding ofthe key aspects of a subject's life and career. Conducting a "job interview" as the presentation component of a resume will allow the student to demonstrate knowledge of the details of a subject's life and this knowledge in a unique way. The resume on the next two pages was created for the Hindu God Shiva by a ninth grade student.

145

Project Based learning

Education I invented the schools after all I'm a god

Experience Hindu's Heaven India, Tamil Nadu Work as: Destroyer Tamil Nadu is my home-office but I travel a lot Current

Professional Background
I've worked as the destroyer of bad habits especially ego, for 4000 years.

Skill Highlights Disease specialization Treatment of ego

Medical Assisting Intravenous therapy

Treatment( elimination) of the illusion of individuality Treatment for bad habits

Shedding of old attachments Body mechanics Client relations

Accomplishments I am able to eliminate habits, ego, distractions, life. Also I am very good with my clients, my Client IGod relationship general is excellent. is very good and communications in and these type of things that can get involved in your

Project Based learning

Additional Information I am the Destroyer of all bad things in your body; my years of work and special treatment with my
clients had made me a very well known God and a very respected one also.

Affiliations/Memberships
Brahma and Vishnu, together we keep control in Hindu's Heaven Current

Certifications
Worshiped DestroyerBibliography Johari, Harish. "ShivaIntroduction http://www.sanatansociety.org
2012

God- Hindu Religion. Hindu Religion

on Shiva (Shiv), the Hindu God of Destruction."

Hindu God Shiva: Shiva (Shiv). Sanatan Society. Web. 25 Mar.

Pandit, Bansi. "Hindu Deities: Lord Shiva." http://www.koausa.org Association. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. Tortora, Kyle. "Hindu God Lord Shiva the Destroyer."

302

Found. Kashrniri Overseas

http://www.lotussculpture.com

Shiva, Hindu

God Shiva, Lord Shiva, Shiva Hindu God, Shiva Destroyer. The Lotus Sculpture. Web. 25 Mar. 2012.

Project Based learning

Twitter
The use of Twitter emphasizes a skill that is often neglected in education: brevity. So many projects and assignments require a certain length (e.g., a five page paper or a ten minute presentation), but Twitter requires a student to become concise, emphasizing quality over quantity. The ability to effectively communicate information in 140 characters or less requires skill and knowledge about a topic that may also be displayed through a research paper or presentation. However, the ability to make a strong argument in a short space is a valuable skill that is lacking in many students.

Feed
Sample feed (actual feed of Navy Seal raid that killed Osama Bin Laden on May I", 2011)1: @ReallyVirtual SohaibAthar Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at lAM (is a rare event).
19 hours ago

Go away helicopter - before I take out my giant swatter :-/

19 hours ago

A huge window shaking bang here in Abbottabad Cantt. I hope its not the start of something nasty:-S
19 hours ago

@mohcin all silent after the blast, but a friend heart it 6 km away too ... the helicopter is gone too.
19 hours ogo

Since taliban (probably) don't have helicopters, and since they're saying it was not "ours", so must be a complicated situation #abbottabad
19 hours ago

and now I feel I must apologize to the pilot about the swatter tweets :-/
17 hours ago

RT @ISuckBigTime: Osama Bin Laden killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan.: ISI has confirmed goes the neighborhood :-/
12 hours ago

Uh oh, there

I need to sleep, but Osama had to pick this day to die :-/
12 hours aga

Project Based learning

Uh oh, now I'm the guy who liveblogged the Osama raid without knowing it.
11 hours ago

Synopsis

Sample Speech: Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. @POTUS Abraham Lincoln 4 scor& 7 yrs ago: nu nation, all men =! Now civil war @. But! Not die in vain. GrS task b4 us: Gvt of-by4-ppl not perish frm earthl!

Project Based learning

Journal

Project Based learning

Blog

Three-part Test for Homework

From Dan Pink's book Drive

Do my students have autonomy over how and when to do the work? Does the assignment promote mastery by offering a novel, engaging task? Do my students understand the

purpose of this assignment?

Sign up for Dan Pink's e-newsletter
Get the Irregular and Irreverent Pink Newslettef'-full of Ideas, excerpts, and freebies on working smarter and living better.
; name , emau address

.: SUBSCRI

B.E

Project Based learning

Poetry

"FedEx Day"
Set aside "20% time" for the students
It's called a "FEDEX Day" because the students can learn whatever they want to, but they must deliver something to
Daniel H. Pink

the class by the end of the day or

within 24 hours.
From Drive by Dan Pink
The Surprising Truth About What Mutivates U.
\

I
------1

Sign up for Dan Pink's e-newsletter

____

Get the Irregular and Irreverent Newsletter-full

Pink

of Ideas. excerpts. and

freebies on working smarter and living better.

f
i name

. email addre ss

SUBSCRIBE

Project Based learning

Song

f er
* Praise effor

rats

The Right Way

an strate y, not intelligence * Make praise specfic * Praise tn private * Offer praise n y when ere's a 00 reaso
- from Drive by Dan Pink
Get the Irregular and Irreverent Pink Newsletter-full of Ideas, excerpts, and

Sign up for Dan Pink's e-newsletter See more tips at Concerned Principals

freebies on working smarter and living better.

,
: name
eI'l13'! i

address

__

Sign up and Immediately re<eive Dan's new Manifesto FLIP: 16 Counter-iatuitlve Ideas About Motivation, Innovation and Leadership

'" J

Project Based Learning

Theater

What motivates us?

Our current business operating systemwhich is built around external, carrot-andstick motivators-doesn't work and often does harm. A new approach has three essential elements: 1.Autonomy- the desire to direct our own lives.

2. Mastery- the urge to get

better and better at something that matters.

~:~~~~;7~k I I
~ A Who/II New Mind

plliV
I
U.
The Suq>ri.ingTru,"

3 . P urpose - th e ye arninq to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves.

About

Wh,,, Motivates

II

Read the book

http://www.danpink.com/drive-the-summaries See DanPink's speech on TEDTalks http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html

Project Based learning

Art Project

I55

Project Based learning

Create a Country
This project covers some of the major topics of government courses. For this project, the student will be creating their own country. Let the creative juices flow- it can be a newly discovered territory on Earth, on another planet, or secession an existing nation. Required Information 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Name Location Flag Map Geography Resources Style of government a. Culture Funding a. b. c. d. e. Protection i. Order i. Legal system Conflict resolution Economic stability Public services Military Create a founding document that establishes how power will be distributed.

10. How will the five purposes of government be fulfilled?

Project Based learning

Create a Business
This project fulfills requirements of economics courses. Detailed information is required as part of this project, with few other restrictions. are fulfilled. Required Information: Name Location Type of business, including information about: a. Consumer(s) b. Product(s) c. Producer(s) d. Worker(s) 4. Market conditions 5. Business model 6. Government regulations/taxes/licenses 7. Financing/capital funds 8. Supply and demand of product(s) 9. Cost/benefit analysis of product(s) and pricing 10. Rationale for opening this business 11. Other requirements as specified by instructor 1. 2. 3. about the business Any type of business, in any location

throughout the world, may be created, as long as all the required research and analysis requirements

Project Based Learning

Write a Bill
This is another project that will teach some of the major concepts of United States government and politics courses. Students will write a bill and follow it through the process of passage and judicial review in the United States government. Required Information: 1. Define government. a. Also include definitions of at least seven styles of government. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Democracy Republic Monarchy Dictatorship Communist Others?

Write a bill to submit to the United States Congress. What are the five purposes of government and which purpose(s) is(are) addressed by this bill? How will this bill be funded? Why is this bill necessary? Which amendments are related to this bill? a. a. b. Discuss how this bill is related to the specific amendment(s). may be involved with this bill? information of existing groups. What aspect of the bill is of interest to these groups? i. Include website/contact Define each of the terms: interest group, PAC, lobbyist. Provide an analysis of how it fulfills one of these categories. Subcommittees involved Committees involved House Senate Conference committee Which interest groups/PACs/lobbyists

8. 9.

Is this bill liberal, conservative, or moderate? a. a. b. c. d. e. Passage of bill through Legislative branch:

10. Discuss the options of the Executive branch. 11. Define judicial review and explain how this bill may be reviewed. 12. Other requirements as specified by instructor.

Project Based learning

Experiment

Suspend judgment.

Is the goldfish dead? Or did the teacher inject the tish with a sedative.'
When he was observed to become certified to teach in New York schools, Dr. Fischler asked a group of students to look. at the tail of a "dead" fish under a microscope. When they saw the blood flowing, this "discrepant event" helped the students see that they had assumed that the fish was not alive.
Transform-Fducation.com Transform'Teaching.org Eduterhl-oundarion.net abe.TI1eStudentlsTI1eClass.C<)In

Project Based learning

Stock Market

Math isa language.

Math isjust a way of using a lot of synonyms. One quarter is like 25 out of 100 or 41 out of 164. We just need to be flexible.
Transform-Fducation.com Transform'Teaching.org EdutechF oundation.net abe.TheStudentls TheClass.cor

Project Based learning

Personal Finance

Teachers

Unfortunately, to most people, teaching is the giving of knowledge. What are you going to tell the students? What is your expertise? But teaching is really about bringing out what's

already inside people.

Dennis Littky, bigpicture.org, metcenter.org Providence, RI

Project Based learning

Fairs

The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden of '(;~ pursing his own education. This will not be a widely shared pursuit until we get over our odd conviction that education is what goes on in school buildings and nowhere else.
John W. Gardner

Project Based Learning

Resources

Let's create people who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating
what other generatio11S have done. Jean Piaget
Search for "Dancing Words to Inspire Transformation," a "recommended video" Transform-education.com

Project Based learning

Glossary

What if you could give your children only 50 words?

hat words would you choose?

How do you communicate and pass on your values?
(j (61)
The SO Words Projec Words-Project-Discussion-aboutValues faccbook.com/pagcs/Thc-50Youtube.com/My50Words ~
The 50 Words ProJe" (Dh<llnion alXM
Valun)

Project Based learning

Index

Project Based learning

References
1 Twitter @ReallyVirtual, SohaibAthar; www.twitter.com 2The Daily Show with John Stewart; www.thedailyshow.com

~ 66

Thank you for looking at this sample of projects. There are over 20 pages that are mostly blank (with just the name of the project at the top of the page) you'll get those projects when you buy the full version on CD from Matt Blazek for $99. The samples that appear here are available on a digital file by requesting the sample from TheEbookman@gmail.com or by visiting TransformTeaching.org.

The posters at the end of this collection of projects are a supplement for you to use with your classes. Visit Transform-Education.com for more ideas.