Activconnect and PBL

[leslieramsey]

I've been posting my ideas to the Top-Teaching Tips thread but feel that they belong here as well. The origin of this discussion can be found at http://www.Prometheanplanet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8334 , and this includes some attachments of one classroom's first attempt at PBL using Activstudio for presentation purposes and Activotes for peer evaluation... but in my last post I was wondering about a nationwide (I think big, don't I?) project that sudents in Activclassrooms anywhere in the U.S. could participate in:

"I am interested in starting a project that students from all over the U.S. can work on - a collaborative project in which each class is assigned a specific task. These tasks could be submitted as separate student-flipcharts to Promethean Planet (yes, it is in the works for the Planet to include a student flipchart section) and/or sent to a "committee" within Promethean that combines the "best" flipchart results and creates one unique national project-based learning examplar. There's been some buzz about a contest, but it's too soon to talk about that yet. What do you think?

[Selda Ziya]

Hi Leslie

I would be very interested to see how you get on in the US and maybe trial it over here. Yesterday I was working with 30, 10 and 11 years olds. I had introduced them to ActivInspire for the first time, their task was to create a multimedia presentation using ActivInspire. They absoulutely loved the software and couldn't wait to get home to download the personal version to continue with their assignment. I think some very exciting work will culminate from these sessions which hopefully will end up on the student area once it is up and running.

This will be a great way to compare and share experiences across the globe and as you say evaluate using LRS! (I think your project just got even bigger!)

[jurczak]

Great idea[clap] I am also trying to start up a PBL project down here in south Florida with the guiding question, "How does where you live affect how you live?" I am currently looking for 8-10 classrooms all over the world who might be interested in conducting this unit in the months of April-May. I think it would be a great experience for the students to participate in a truly global collaborate PBL project, and integrating the Promethean Activclassroom and Elluminate makes this possible!

If anyone is interested in participating, email me at kim.jurczak@prometheanworld.com, or if there are any TLC's that want to help out let me know:)

[slohse]

This all sounds great... love the topic Kim for the April May project.. I think it's time students take over their learning and create these activities, collaborate with others around the world... [clap]

See you on the 25th Selda through Elluminate!!! Kim, feel free to join us at RIE if you'd like to experience Elluminate!

[Selda Ziya]

That's a great idea! We are connecting at 2pm UK time. Also what does PBL stand for? :)

[jurczak]

PBL stands for project-based learning. Here is a link to more information for anyone who might be interested:

http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning

[Selda Ziya]

Thanks for the link and the explanation. Also a useful site for UK teachers, as cross-curricular approaches is used in our schools too. What age group is this PBL project "How does where you live affect how you live?" aimed at?

Interested UK schools please get in touch.

[leslieramsey]

:D Kim,
I love the "big question" you have selected for your project! You might have a little problem getting nationwide support during April and May, though. I don't know how the end of year tests are conducted in Florida, but in North Carolina, they take place in May. Which means most principals put the pressure on teachers to review, review, review throughout the month of April. I would love to try this project in September, when school just starts up, though. Maybe we can use this as a start-up unit, when many teachers seem to focus on topics like "All About Me,' autobiographical essays, etc. It would be cool if we could advertise this on the Planet all summer long...what do you think?

[jurczak]

Great idea for the start of next year:) Florida is finished with testing - theirs is in March, I forget that other states may have theirs further along in the school year. I am going to try it out with a smaller group of 10 or so teachers in the spring, and will get some feedback from them. Then we can use the info to help plan for next year - I think it would be a great project[clap].