Problem+Based+Learning

Apple Inc., Challenge Based Learning @http://www.challengebasedlearning.org/ This site, created in collaboration with Apple Inc., is a site where teachers and students can visit to find "challenges" to work on. Some examples are to increase exercise in the community, reduce paper waste at school, and make art a priority. Once the challenge link is followed, it gives an overview of the problem, lists essential questions and gives some example guiding activities for students to try, though students are encouraged to work on their own. There are also examples of some student submitted solutions to the challenges as well.

Math Trails http://www.saskschools.ca/~otl_el/grassroots/mathtrail/index.html I was introduced to Math Trails through another teacher and she recommended this site to find examples of other math trails that had been created. Check out some of these examples! Some are created by the teacher to provide interactive lessons for students to travel and engage in math activities, and some were created by students. In my experience, ones created by students are ways for them to recall what they have learned and apply it in a different way, instead of just solving the problems. It allows them to think a little more critically by creating and evaluating their own questions. Some of these examples look like so much fun and apply from grades 1-8!

media type="custom" key="20303508" align="left" Edutopia http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning This 3 minute video from edutopia.com is a short overview of what project based learning is. The site also includes articles, an in depth video that looks at the components of PBL in the classroom setting and how to make it successful! One part of the site that I liked was the strategies that are shared for how to teach with PBL, as well as a discussion/commenting section for asking questions and responding to articles.

http://pbl-online.org/ With project based learning being on everyone's mind, this site is the ultimate resourse. PBL-Online gives teachers the opportunity to design their own projects using 21st century skills, standards, and creativity. It also has a section to browse the project directory to see other projects that have been developed. There is also a video library to see various projects as examples.

Blog: Best Kids Educational Websites http://kidseducationalwebsites.blogspot.com/2011/01/project-based-learning-lesson-plans.html This blog was created by a teacher and technology integrator who searched the internet looking for the best sites to share with teachers and students. This post specifically refers to PBL and where to find lessons and resources. She mentioned Edutopia.com as I mentioned above, as well as some other links to sites with specific lessons. What I liked about her blog is the vast resources availble. She does not stop at just a few sites-there are 15-20 sites per subject area with even more sites listed on those links. The author has clearly done her research and found reliable sources for teachers.