Teacher Name: Natalie Littler
Subject/s area: PDHPE
How does your school use project based learning (PBL)?
Our school has been running PBL for two years now. We started with year 7 last year and continued into year 8 this year. All faculties develop their own PBL and complete one each with various lengths depending upon the faculty.
Are there challenges in using PBL?
Teachers learn PBL from doing a PBL. The more you do the more you know. Being organised and having clear structure in place before the start of a PBL really does help the PBL be a success. Challenges can be overcome with individual time within the team and making sure your activities and experiences ensure individual accountability.
What did Thom do with you and your school?
Thom has been in contact with our school over the last few months and I have the pleasure of Thom helping me with my own PBL this year. Thom met with all faculties divided into groups and talked about his experiences and the groups questions led the discussions. Thom is awesome at developing a range of focus questions to ensure engagement with a clear vision.
What was the most valuable thing/s you learnt from you time with Thom?
Get an authentic audience for your students and know when to give direct instruction and know when for students to explore. Every topic we do doesn’t lend itself to PBL. So if it doesn’t fit don’t push it.
How will you change your practice after having Thom at your school?
Continue to refine our focus questions, challenge the students and make sure the focus of team rather than group is given . A great PBL teaches so much more than the curriculum and be open to those teachable moments.
What are 2 top tips you would give teachers thinking of using this approach?
Find someone who already does a PBL. I was lucky enough to work with Kelly Pfeiffer an experienced PBL Teacher in my first PBL and this really help guide me to what an effective PBL looks like. While Kelly and I live hours apart we were able to share resources and ideas on how best to nail the project. Find someone who is happy to share some resources or advice on how to develop and maintain individual and group accountability. Use a variety of experts in your PBL. It creates interest and engagement and let’s the students know this is a real world issue and it’s bigger than their own school environment. We use a range of guest speakers and they are also excited to come into our classroom and share their ideas.
I do love PBL. Many of my lessons have continued to show elements of PBL while we might not even be completely one. So happy exploring this teaching method and good luck I’m sure you’ll love it as much as me!