Sev-106
Motivating Learning through Authentic Assessment
Whether you are already familiar with Project Based Learning or just curious to see what it can do for your students, this 4-module course is designed to support you and a small group of your colleagues (in the same discipline or grade level) to build and implement PBL in your classrooms.
Course Objectives
Modify a current unit
(or create a new one) so that it is project based.
Develop an assessment using the GRASPS planner.
Create a rubric to assess students’ final product for the project.
Course Overview
Sample Course Video
Module 1: What’s the BIG Idea? PBL & Authentic Assessment
We start with a brief orientation to Project Based Learning, answering three critical questions—What is PBL? How does PBL improve learning outcomes? And what is assessment as learning? By the end of this module, you will identify a topic or unit you teach that can serve as the focus of your PBL unit and create essential questions that will motivate your students to begin exploration of the big ideas they will encounter.
Module 2: PBL, Student-Centered Instruction & Differentiation
The structure of PBL inherently supports differentiation and can only thrive in a student-centered learning environment. This module will help you plan to address the barriers your students may face in your PBL unit and support them in breaking through. Applying the principles of backwards design, this module will guide you through the creation of differentiated learning targets and performance tasks that motivate students.
Module 3: Using GRASPS to Create a PBL Unit
With your essential question, big ideas, performance tasks, and differentiation strategies ready to go, this module provides the structure and support for you to get started with PBL in a way that is manageable. You will use the GRASPS template to structure your PBL unit and create a rubric that supports self- and peer-assessment and fosters student autonomy in learning.
Module 4: Planning for Implementation of your PBL Unit
This final module will prepare you to introduce your PBL to your students and ready yourself for the challenge (and fun!) of Project Based Learning in your classroom. To help your group with implementation, the resources and guidance in this module provide a structure you can use to support each other through implementation, reflection, and refinement if your PBL unit.
We start with a brief orientation to Project Based Learning, answering three critical questions—What is PBL? How does PBL improve learning outcomes? And what is assessment as learning? By the end of this module, you will identify a topic or unit you teach that can serve as the focus of your PBL unit and create essential questions that will motivate your students to begin exploration of the big ideas they will encounter.
Module 2: PBL, Student-Centered Instruction & Differentiation
The structure of PBL inherently supports differentiation and can only thrive in a student-centered learning environment. This module will help you plan to address the barriers your students may face in your PBL unit and support them in breaking through. Applying the principles of backwards design, this module will guide you through the creation of differentiated learning targets and performance tasks that motivate students.
Module 3: Using GRASPS to Create a PBL Unit
With your essential question, big ideas, performance tasks, and differentiation strategies ready to go, this module provides the structure and support for you to get started with PBL in a way that is manageable. You will use the GRASPS template to structure your PBL unit and create a rubric that supports self- and peer-assessment and fosters student autonomy in learning.
Module 4: Planning for Implementation of your PBL Unit
This final module will prepare you to introduce your PBL to your students and ready yourself for the challenge (and fun!) of Project Based Learning in your classroom. To help your group with implementation, the resources and guidance in this module provide a structure you can use to support each other through implementation, reflection, and refinement if your PBL unit.