How can I prepare my students for PBL?
In order to prepare students to be successful in a Project-Based-Learning environment, it is often a good idea to first introduce them to a collaborative environment. This can be done in a variety of ways, but possibilities include:
For more information on collaborative learning techniques, please click here.
More details about the process of this PBL:
In order to prepare students to be successful in a Project-Based-Learning environment, it is often a good idea to first introduce them to a collaborative environment. This can be done in a variety of ways, but possibilities include:
- Pencil Races- Students will stand in a circle and will be given one pencil. They are required to touch the pencil to their nose, and then pass the pencil to the next person. The goal of this activity is to get the pencil around the circle as quickly as possible, and improving their time as adjustments are made. This will give students the opportunity to work together in a competitive/game scenario, which will inherently spike student interest.
- Ordered Birthdays- Without speaking or making any noise, students will arrange themselves around the room in order of their birthdays. After being arranged, students will check their accuracy by stating their birthdays. The purpose of this activity is to have students work cooperatively, and allow them the opportunity to problem solve "on the fly."
- 3-Step Interview- Students will be split into pairs and must interview each other with a predetermined set of questions. This pair then finds another pair, to form a group of four students. Each pair will then introduce their partner to the opposite pair using the information they learned during the interview. The purpose of this activity is to promote class discussions, and even learn more about students (which can be helpful when grouping students)
For more information on collaborative learning techniques, please click here.
More details about the process of this PBL: