Welcome to the second in a series of posts regarding Driving Questions and Challenges, I am very excited to share on PBL and Blended/eLearning. As I reflect, PBL has always been blended. Our challenge is… how to break down the classroom walls even more with the technology we have today. In this series, I will look at each of PBLWork’s Gold Standards. I will provide a short explaination and some free resources examples! Keep in mind that you may want to start small. That might include looking at a past project, or even a large multi-step lesson through the lens of the Gold Standards and free Blended/eLearning resources The Gold Standards from PBLWorks are posted in the picture above. Enjoy this wonderful journey of learning. Before continuing, I would appreciate having you take a moment to subscribe to this Blog by RSS or email and follow me at (mjgormans). Taking that moment ensures that we can continue to network, something that is very important to me. Also, please share this post with others and even provide a re-tweet with tools at bottom. Last, please check my Booking Page to see how I could be part of your school PD or Conference plans. Enjoy your PBL Journey! – Mike Gorman (https://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/)
Booking Info – Look for contact information at the Booking Site. I have a distance learning workshop and session entitled “STEM is a Verb”. In fact… the Workshop is also a Verb! I also have a new 1 hour workshop “Preparing for PBL”. It really promotes that 4C Classroom. Perhaps you wish to investigate PBL in the eLearning and Blended Classroom in another practical workshop. All of these and more can also be built into a 1/2 day or full day session, and are very interactive! Schools have loved it! Talk with me about your winter,spring and summer… or even fall planning for 2021.
Part 2… Driving Question and Challenge: Free Blended and eLearning PBL Gold Standards Resources by Michael Gorman at 21centuryedtech
Project Based Learning supports a child’s natural tendency to acquire and learn more about the
world they are a part of. The very hook that engages the student is a sense of inquiry of the world
they are a part of. As in many Inquiry Based Models, PBL begins with a Driving or Investigative
Question. This question could be called the open question, focus question, driving question,
essential question, or probing question. The investigative nature of the question cannot be
answered in a yes or no, but instead must call for student investigation. It will require students to
uncover their need to know.
Challenging Problem or Question: Based on the standards and answered by the product.
The questions can be one that is formulated by the teacher or worked out by the
students. It may have a final answer that is completely open-ended, or possibly could have a
prescribed answer in which case it may align more with PrBL
(Problem Based Learning). Think of ways, as you look at the resources, you can use technology to Blend this idea in your classroom. In all cases, it must connect and be aligned with the curriculum
standards. The more engaging and open the question, the more it allows for an investigation that
spirals. Last, the end product of the PBL, or multi-step lesson, must answer this challenge or question.
Resources for the Driving/Investigative Question and Challenges: – I am including just a small set of resources that might help you write and incorporate that question or challenge. There are only five, and as you read them think of ways you can take these ideas and blend them with technology. The most important part is framing a question so that it is open… but still constraining it so the question is certain to support the standards. This was my primary focus in finding resources. When we address the Gold Standard of Inquiry we will look even deeper at some student owned blended inquiry that helps answer the question. I realize there are so much more… but that will be for a later Blog or Book!
PBLWorks – A Tube and a Rubric that help teachers design a Driving Question. The video and template are all supplied. This is part of the PBLWorks resources. It really helps simplify the process of creating a Driving Question. If you have students creating their own this could be helpful, How might this be offered in a Blended Learning Set Up? You already have the template and a video, Imaginae this in a ZOOM breakout room.
Driving Question Article – A two part series from Mike Gorman at 21centuryedtech that explains and provides information for writing a Driving Question. I have included this so you can think of ways to really write that Driving Question. I wonder how teachers could work together using Google Docs or Padlet to make this happen. Could student need to knows be posted in this fashion?
Wonderopolis (Links to an external site – An amazing site filled with wonder, inquiry, and possible Driving Questions ready to be used in the blended PBL classroom. I am sure you will find ways to bring this into your classroom learning management system. There can provide a nice crosswalk of in… and outside of school.
In Search of a Driving Question (Edutopia) – – Great article to help you write that Driving Question. As you read the articl;e think of ways that technology could be brought in tjhis process. How might you make a virtual Wonder Wall?
Essential Question STEMS for Inquiry Based Learning (PenPal School Blog – These allow you to look at Driving Question STEMS that might help you write that driving question. I like this site because it offers some Blended Learning Possibilities as you think of those STEMS that just might help that questuion or challenge.
Reflection on Driving/Investigative Question or Challenge
Project Based Learning facilitates and activates that essential human desire to learn, investigate,
and inquire. It fosters the ability to ask that open ended question that uncover the curriculum content.
A PBL Unit facilitates the student owned process of inquiry while seeking knowledge, along with high
level skills that will serve a lifetime of learning. This we will investigate in a the next Blog along with some great free resources.
Next Post: Student Owned Sustained Inquiry… Sign Up Now!
Booking Info – Look for contact information at the Booking Site. I have a distance learning workshop and session entitled “STEM is a Verb”. In fact… the Workshop is also a Verb! I also have a new 1 hour workshop “Preparing for PBL”. It really promotes that 4C Classroom. Perhaps you wish to investigate PBL in the eLearning and Blended Classroom in another practical workshop. All of these and more can also be built into a 1/2 day or full day session, and are very interactive! Schools have loved it! Talk with me about your winter,spring and summer… or even fall planning for 2021.
21 st Century Educational Technology and Learning 