There are no future well-equipped calssrooms but there are some media labs we use for our lessons and projects. In my school we don't use PBL method, not yet.
My Teaching Practise
During my 24 years teaching experiences at a traditional secondary school, I've been teaching french language, grammar and culture to students aged 14-15 and French Literature and culture to students between 16 and 18. I use active teaching and learning methodologies especially with younger students. It's a bit more difficult for me to do it when teaching literature. Etwinning helps me to integrate curriculum by working and collaborating with other european schools and colleagues. That brings further enthusiasm in teaching and learning activities.
1.a. What is PBL
PBL is a pedagogical approach in which students learn by working in team on a complex task, project and finding creative solutions to problems.
As the videos show, they learn by doing and they take advantage of the use of internet and digital tools in general. I hope I'll learn much more about PBL method.
1.b. Why use PBL?
Because PBL is a dynamic method in which students face real challenges and authentic problems while working in small groups and developing curriculum. Because it promotes team work besides indipendent work. Because it integrates digital technology into the curriculum. Because it encourages students to explore and create, promoting critical thinking skills.
1.c. COMPONENTS OF GOOD PBL:
Real World Connection - Core To Learning -Structured Collaboration - Student Driven - Multifaceted Assessment
I think one of the most changeling component is multifaceted assessment because in most schools the curriculum requires a different assessment based on traditional didactics. Teachers training to PBL evaluation pegagogy could be very helpful.
1.d. Driving Questions
Driving questions help to communicate the purpose of a project and they create interest and a feeling of challenge in students who , working in team, develop divergent thinking.
My driving Questions:
- Create a healthy menu for your birthday party.
-Could an airplane fly with shorter wings?
My PBL Design
If I should identify a class and a subject topic which I can use to experiment with PBL, I think I would choose my 2nd year class of 24 students aged 14-15. The subject topic is "How food tradition in Italy and France contribute to spread healthy eating habits?" The duration of the project is the first school term, the final product could be the realization of a digital album or brochure.
Skills:
- Work in team an collaborate
- Develop creative thinking
- Communicate in L2 French
- Use digital tools
- Develop Knowledge of typical french and italian food
- Develop healthy eating habits through good practices
MODULE 2 - developing effective collaboration for PBL
Collaboration is communicating, sharing, cooperating, understanding, exchanging experiences and working together to achieve goals...
In my school, over the years, we collaborated with partners in France (E-Twinning projects), Austria, as well as Greece and Russia (Intercultura projects) to class exchanges. Organizations or Institutions such as Alliance Française (Ministère de l'Education Nationale), Cambridge University, Cervantes Institute, Goethe Institute, are involved with the school concerning language level examinations. Universities in our Region collaborate each year in guidance activities. Students are involved in Training work-experiences and internships with local institutions: museums and travel agencies (tourist guide projects) , hospital (clown therapy project), hotels (reception). Every year the school collaborates with local schools and pupils of the lower grades during open days. Local professionals (police officers, magistrates, academics, doctors and psychologists, etc. ...) give lectures regularly. So the school is linked to the territory but much more can be done to involve parents and other authorities.
3.1. Resilience - staying with problems
Very often we have to face frustration and be confronted with failure or disappointment. For me the latest problem was just to participate to this online course in English. I had difficulties with language and the new tools for creating Learning Diary and Design... I was afraid I could not respect the deadline of Module 1 and I thought to abandon. But isn't it what I teach to my students, to persist and never give up? So I kept on working and now I feel much more comfortable working and respecting deadlines.
“ Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts ” - W. Churchill
3.2.Scaffolding for Student Ownership and Independence
Too much support unwittingly encourages pupils to be passive in life and to rely on others for things they should do for themselves. Failures too help to grow up.
Developing Student's Resilience
To support students to become confident and independent learners I always avoid criticism. I encourage collaboration and involve students in lesson planning. Recovery from mistakes is also important because we learn from past errors.
3.5 Building my PBL Learning Design
MODULE 4 - Assessing PBL
I'm free to assess my students, usually written tests and oral ones, to evaluate language skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. In my school teachers assess students at the end of the first term and at the end of the school year with common tests they previously planned together.
4.2 Embedding Assessment into PBL
I consider that simple Formative Assessments that could be embedded are :
Visual representation (Mind Map)
Questionings Techniques
Constructive Quizzes
Peer Instructions
4.3 Peer Assessment for PBL
My experience of participating in peer assessment activities on this PBL course is very positive. Exchanging feedback on our own works helps us to enrich our reflections on our work. I sometimes used a form of peer assessment in the classroom but I noticed that existing friendship relations interfere with fair peer assessment and usually students lack experience or knowledge to carry out properly the task. I think I'll discuss the problem with my students first and make sure they understand it's just a way to provide feedback in order to do better. Peer assessment can be a powerful tool to deepen students' understanding of their learning process.
4.4 Creating & Using Rubrics for PBL Assessment
Credits:
Created with images by freshcreator: site builder and booking engine - "Brindisi" • jonas.lowgren - "Key" • cbaquiran - "birthday cake cake birthday" • karen_neoh - "Flying" • BarbaraBonanno - "share one for all and all for" • AlexanderStein - "colored pencils pens crayons" • skeeze - "colored pencils rainbow colorful" • bob - "Grit" • Christopher Combe Photography - "Life Will Find a Way" • fudowakira0 - "ladder sky pig-iron" • ** RCB ** - "up and down the ladder" • A Roger Davies - "Flower"