Assignments

= Assignment =

Objective:
Demonstrate an understanding of the components of PBL by successfully creating a preliminary draft of the PBL unit plan to implement with students.

Summary:
In the first module you read several resources that were meant to increase your knowledge of PBL and that of assessments, both formative and summative. Following your reading you were asked to craft and post the standards you intend to meet, the essential driving questions, and 3 formative assessment techniques. Module 2 took you through the world of GIS and had you complete a lesson using Arcmap. During Module 3 you chose a web 2.0 tool and described how it could be used to increase the level at which students learned. This module is where you will be asked to synthesize those pieces in order to create a preliminary draft of your PBL unit.

__** Part 1 (Due by Sunday, October 3rd) **__
Over the next few days you will need to develop a preliminary draft of your PBL unit plan. This can be a daunting task if you're new to PBL so you will have a few templates from which to choose to help guide you through the process. Choose the template that you think will fit your needs or you may use an approved PBL template from your county. Use the rubric that was introduced to you in Module one as you complete your plan so you will have an idea of what is expected.

Your preliminary plan should include the following components:


 * 1) Standards chosen in Module 1
 * 2) Well-defined problem statement from Module 1
 * 3) Three formative assssment strategies
 * 4) An explanation of how you will use GIS and GPS technologies to meet your standard(s)
 * 5) At least two Web 2.0 tools employed in such a way that student learning will be elevated
 * 6)  A general timeline of implementation
 * 7) Unit should be a minimum of 6 lessons that are not necessarily consecutive

Remember, this is meant to be a workable plan. Your coach will provide feedback and support to help you successfully complete your MSPP e-Portfolio project.

Templates:Both templates are from the Buck Institute, however they each have a different focus. This template is very general and offers the user an opportunity to use a unit that has already been created and make changes so an authentic PBL unit is the outcome.

This template is more detailed in what it offers. The calendar on the last page can be as specific or as general as you need it to be. You may know the dates you will be teaching the individual lessons or just a general timeline of when you may teach the unit. Regardless please use the calendar to help plan your implementation.

Post your completed preliminary PBL draft to your regional Edmodo site. Make sure you save it using your last name, grade level, and subject area in your inital post (i.e. castle, 8th grade science). This will make it easier for the other participants to read the plans that they may find relevant to them. Don't forget, if you have questions about completing the module, post it to the Q & A Brainstorm page.

__Part 2 (Due by Wednesday October 6th)__
Feedback is an important part of the development process. Very rarely do we create a product and not want to show it to someone to see what they think. You will be giving feedback on the preliminary plans in part two. After you've posted your plan, you will choose at least one other to examine. You'll post a response giving feedback to your colleague. In your response include the following: 1. At least one way that the plan incorporates good PBL, GIS, GPS, and/or Web 2.0 strategies. 2. At least one suggestion for how to improve this plan. Please make this suggestion meaningful to student learning. Please consider posting more than one response even though one is required. You are encouraged to post to more than one plan as time allows. Everyone will benefit from a collaborative discussion.

Part 3
Go back to your plan and consider the feedback given to you by your peers. Revise as necessary and email your completed plan to your regional instructional coach. If the revision needed is extensive or more than can be done in a few minutes schedule a meeting with your instructional coach to work through your plan together. =Congratulations!! You have completed your four hour online professional development module!=