Project Search

Identify some common features among projects that you examined.

All projects had clear objectives that are focused on mastering given skills. In addition,

PBLs require a “team” atmosphere that demands students to work together, coach one

another, and act as teachers for each other. The projects also clearly require essential

questions and big ideas for students to focus in on. Without these guiding tools students

are left with too much freedom, but with the larger themes students are given the ability

to be creative within boundaries. Another surprising factor is the fact that most require

students to engage in an activity that requires professionalism, something that sets the bar

and expectations high for all.

Share one PBL project that you were able to locate during your search.

A project that I saw and found interesting is titled “Peeps, Playas, and Apple Bottom

Jeans: how Teens Influence Pop Culture.” In this project students are to pretend that they

work for a marketing firm. This firm has undergone changes and is looking for new

expert advisors since majority of the staff is out of touch with the current pop culture trends.

This firm acknowledges the fact that teenagers have a heavy hand in influencing pop

culture trends and wants to know how they do so. The task is to create a video that

documents the research findings and present the findings to the board of executives. In

the presentation the task is to persuade the executives of the authenticity and validity of

the research through the implementation of a five page paper utilizing proper

documentation (Richardson 2009).

Explain why you like this project, and how you might be able to adapt it for your own use.

There are several appealing aspects of the project:

• It seeks to help student master Common Core Writing Standard 7.
• It places students in a real world situation where they are forced to use their communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills, which are the three main objectives of PBLs it seems.
• It will force my students to develop their persuasion skills not just in writing but in speaking, listening, and through evaluative research.
• It will require that students practice research skills and the process of evaluating various sources in order develop a well-rounded, logical, and intriguing argument that can persuade an audience.

I believe this project presents a creative and realistic opportunity for students to master this

standard. I would like to use this approach, but change the marketing team’s essential question.

Rather than students providing information about how teens influence pop culture, I would like

to see them research what society today says the American dream is. This would tie in nicely

with our Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, and other short units taught throughout the

year.

References

Richardson, S. (2009, June 10). Teach21 Project Based Learning. Retrieved June 16, 2014, from http://wveis.k12.wv.us/teach21/public/project/Guide.cfm?upid=3308&tsele1=1&tsele2=110