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Project Based Learning: Real Questions. Real Answers. How to Unpack PBL and Inquiry
Countless educators from across the globe would love to leverage project based learning to create learner-centered opportunities for their students.Nonetheless, project based learning has yet to go mainstream. If so many educators believe in project based learning, and if project based learning can benefit so many students, why isn’t this approach the norm?Because educators have questions.Since the release of their first book, Hacking Project Based Learning, Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy, PBL experts, have connected with thousands of PBL practitioners. This book is Cooper and Murphy’s response to the most common questions educators ask about PBL and inquiry,
Why project based learning?How do I structure a PBL experience?How do I get grades?How do I conference with students?How do I include direct instruction?How do I build a PBL culture?How do I manage the chaos?How does inquiry relate to PBL?How do I get started with PBL?Each question (and its answer) represents a chapter in the book. All of the answers strung together detail project based learning in its entirety, pieced together through the chapters.Answers are based on Cooper and Murphy’s often hard-earned experiences and approachable solutions, which they have practiced and recommended to educators with whom they work. Project based learning implementation exists along a continuum, and as such, it comes with multiple entry points. The goal, always, is to offer practitioners what they need to feel successful in their work regardless of where they begin.While this book answers questions and dives into the thick of project based learning, an ongoing theme is the idea that project based learning isn’t presented in isolation or as the silver bullet for meeting students’ needs. In this sense, this book reads more like a progressive educator toolkit that can serve as a resource for those who want or need to make their practices more relevant, while adding value for those already moving forward.The most powerful books aren’t just the books that shift our thinking, but those that shift our thinking and our actions. Project Based Learning is one of these books.Foreword by Thomas C. Murray, Director of Innovation, Future Ready Schools.
Why project based learning?How do I structure a PBL experience?How do I get grades?How do I conference with students?How do I include direct instruction?How do I build a PBL culture?How do I manage the chaos?How does inquiry relate to PBL?How do I get started with PBL?Each question (and its answer) represents a chapter in the book. All of the answers strung together detail project based learning in its entirety, pieced together through the chapters.Answers are based on Cooper and Murphy’s often hard-earned experiences and approachable solutions, which they have practiced and recommended to educators with whom they work. Project based learning implementation exists along a continuum, and as such, it comes with multiple entry points. The goal, always, is to offer practitioners what they need to feel successful in their work regardless of where they begin.While this book answers questions and dives into the thick of project based learning, an ongoing theme is the idea that project based learning isn’t presented in isolation or as the silver bullet for meeting students’ needs. In this sense, this book reads more like a progressive educator toolkit that can serve as a resource for those who want or need to make their practices more relevant, while adding value for those already moving forward.The most powerful books aren’t just the books that shift our thinking, but those that shift our thinking and our actions. Project Based Learning is one of these books.Foreword by Thomas C. Murray, Director of Innovation, Future Ready Schools.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2021
16 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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April 7, 2021
If you are looking for a boring educational book then this book is not for you! In Project Based Learning: Real questions. Real Answers. How to Unpack PBL and Inquiry, Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have assembled a very interactive and engaging book designed to help educators transform learning for our children.
Right from the beginning Cooper and Murphy start with WHY. How important is this? Well, there has been extensive research showing that any new learning needs context so if you start with the why then you are on the path! Cooper and Murphy discuss their perspectives as learners and then go into a chapter that is filled with supporting details and research.
As a parent of two daughters, I worry about the educational systems that might make my daughters or any child, feel that learning is just about moving information from a textbook to a worksheet rather than the thrill of discovery ~ Erin Murphy
After they discuss the why, Cooper and Murphy take the reader on the road to how. As professional development experts, they discuss how they have implemented it and more importantly, trained others to use it in their classrooms. They suggest a three step process to implementing PBL in the classroom:
Plan with the end in mind.
Plan the assessments.
Plan the teaching and learning.
Cooper and Murphy provide charts, graphs and narratives describing the process with such clarity that you will feel fully supported during your journey!
Throughout the remainder of the book, Cooper and Murphy help practitioners tackle difficult subjects such as grades, conferencing, direct instruction and working with colleagues during the process. According to Cooper, “I was given a copy of Fair Isn’t Always Equal by Rick Wormeli as a administrative intern. Unfortunately, I put it on my bookshelf and didn’t get back to in until I became an assistant principal. Once I read it, I was floored by the ways the author’s ideas and philosophies disagreed with my own. I realized that my practices and the research were out of line. I committed many classic mistakes such as averaging grades, grading group work and forcing students to adhere to strict deadlines when handing in assignments.” As you can see, the authors are committed to Reflective Practice and sharing their growth with the reader!
Assessment says, “I want to help you,” while grading says, “I want to judge you.” ~ Cooper and Murphy
Photo by William Iven on Unsplash
The concluding chapters of the book help the reader with the heavy lifting. How are you going to build a PBL culture? I was really impressed that they spent a huge segment of the book addressing culture. As one of my favorite Peter Druker quests came to mind, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Cooper and Murphy provide a great deal of support to the notion of prioritizing students over the curriculum as well as having a growth mindset about the process. Often times, as they point out, PBL can appear chaotic with the control of the learning squarely on the learner’s back. Cooper and Murphy will not only help you with managing the chaos, they also provide research-based support systems to ensure that learning is occurring during the entire process. These support systems can help with administration, parents or critics who wonder… what is even going on in there?
If you are considering Project Based Learning, I highly recommend this book. Cooper and Murphy’s process will ease any anxiety you have about switching the learning to the students. Then, as you implement the process, the authors will be a tweet away for support.
Continue the learning with PBL and connect with Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy on Twitter.
Right from the beginning Cooper and Murphy start with WHY. How important is this? Well, there has been extensive research showing that any new learning needs context so if you start with the why then you are on the path! Cooper and Murphy discuss their perspectives as learners and then go into a chapter that is filled with supporting details and research.
As a parent of two daughters, I worry about the educational systems that might make my daughters or any child, feel that learning is just about moving information from a textbook to a worksheet rather than the thrill of discovery ~ Erin Murphy
After they discuss the why, Cooper and Murphy take the reader on the road to how. As professional development experts, they discuss how they have implemented it and more importantly, trained others to use it in their classrooms. They suggest a three step process to implementing PBL in the classroom:
Plan with the end in mind.
Plan the assessments.
Plan the teaching and learning.
Cooper and Murphy provide charts, graphs and narratives describing the process with such clarity that you will feel fully supported during your journey!
Throughout the remainder of the book, Cooper and Murphy help practitioners tackle difficult subjects such as grades, conferencing, direct instruction and working with colleagues during the process. According to Cooper, “I was given a copy of Fair Isn’t Always Equal by Rick Wormeli as a administrative intern. Unfortunately, I put it on my bookshelf and didn’t get back to in until I became an assistant principal. Once I read it, I was floored by the ways the author’s ideas and philosophies disagreed with my own. I realized that my practices and the research were out of line. I committed many classic mistakes such as averaging grades, grading group work and forcing students to adhere to strict deadlines when handing in assignments.” As you can see, the authors are committed to Reflective Practice and sharing their growth with the reader!
Assessment says, “I want to help you,” while grading says, “I want to judge you.” ~ Cooper and Murphy
Photo by William Iven on Unsplash
The concluding chapters of the book help the reader with the heavy lifting. How are you going to build a PBL culture? I was really impressed that they spent a huge segment of the book addressing culture. As one of my favorite Peter Druker quests came to mind, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Cooper and Murphy provide a great deal of support to the notion of prioritizing students over the curriculum as well as having a growth mindset about the process. Often times, as they point out, PBL can appear chaotic with the control of the learning squarely on the learner’s back. Cooper and Murphy will not only help you with managing the chaos, they also provide research-based support systems to ensure that learning is occurring during the entire process. These support systems can help with administration, parents or critics who wonder… what is even going on in there?
If you are considering Project Based Learning, I highly recommend this book. Cooper and Murphy’s process will ease any anxiety you have about switching the learning to the students. Then, as you implement the process, the authors will be a tweet away for support.
Continue the learning with PBL and connect with Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy on Twitter.
January 4, 2022
Practical and useful ideas and suggestions. It can be read in sequence or not, depending on what areas you want to focus on.
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