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A Meaningful Mess
(The Blog)

Sharing my desire to engage students in meaningful learning, even when it's messy.

PBL Baby Steps

12/14/2020

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PBL, Project-Based Learning, has a big impact on learners.  Edutopia describes this way of learning as "a dynamic classroom approach in which students actively explore real-world problems and challenges and acquire a deeper knowledge."  Sounds like a good idea, yes?  Definitely sounds like something that might result in true engagement from our learners.  I often say that completing work, paying attention, or logging into an LMS is not engagement.  That's compliance.  Engagement is a willingness to invest in the learning.  In my own experience, I have seen more of a willingness to invest when I made project-based learning a priority in my classroom.  

I was recently asked why, with all we know about the benefits of PBL, this type of learning isn't more of of a reality within our current educational landscape. Several things came to mind with the first being time. Planning and implementing project-based learning requires time to plan, time to collaborate, and time to provide feedback. It requires a different planning mindset and can seem quite overwhelming.  
As I began to share my thoughts, we wondered what it might look like to provide some baby steps for educators wanting to implement project-based learning.  Jumping in feet-first might seem too risky or just too overwhelming.  However, implementing small steps to cultivate a PBL mindset is completely manageable and doable.  After the conversation, I sat down to consider the small pieces of project-based learning that I thought might have the biggest impact on our leaners.  

This graphic can be used as a choice board for educators wanting to dive in or just encouragement to try something new in order to make learning meaningful.  I hope that it's helpful and that it encourages educators to take that first small step towards PBL being a reality in their own classrooms.

I still believe that cross-curricular PBL experiences designed by teams of educators would have more of an impact within our current circumstances than any other strategy or plan.  Project-based learning is relevant, collaborative, and most importantly meaningful.  Meaningful learning results in true engagement...a willingness to invest. And the truth is, that without a willingness to invest, there can be no opportunity to learn.  ​
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    About Me


    Andi was a classroom teacher for 16 years before pursuing her passion to change education by sharing practical ways to engage and empower this generation of learners.   She is currently a national speaker, author, consultant, and digital innovation specialist at ESC Region 12 in Waco, Texas. Andi is passionate about using meaningful technology in the classroom and finding innovative ways to engage today’s learners. 

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  • Home
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