Challenge Based Learning Project
Objectives:
The students will engage in a multidisciplinary approach to learning that encourages learners to leverage the technology they use in their daily lives to solve real-world problems.
The students will collaborate and work hands-on with peers, teachers, and experts in their communities and around the world by asking good questions, developing deep subject area knowledge, identifying and solving challenges, taking action, and sharing their experience.
Plan
Prior to doing any sort of Challenge Based Learning, teach a two day lesson on how to collect information, including survey creation and administration, research, and interviewing.
Survey Monkey Tips on Writing Survey Questions :
- Choosing a survey goal.
- Writing a question list.
- Best way to write a multiple choice question.
- Yes/No questions.
- How to write clear answer choices.
- How to use ranges.
- Matrix questions.
- How to write a rating scale question.
- How to write a portion question.
Day 1
Brainstorm some real world big ideas, big problems. Ask “Where could we go to find out about big ideas, big problems in our world?” Keep an ongoing list from the first class to the last, of big ideas.
Data Base of ideas:
Guide the students through the process using my PowerPoint.
- Big Idea
- Essential Question
- The Challenge
- Guiding Questions, Activities, and Resources
- A Solution
Watch the Challenge Based Learning Video on Democracy.
HW Look thru some of the challenges posed on the Challenge Based Learning Website.
Day 2
Continue to look at Challenges on the Website, along with the solutions, so that students can see what is expected.
- Watch my Energy Video, and identify the different requirements of Challenge Based Learning.
- Watch my Words to Learn By Video, and identify the different requirements of Challenge Based Learning.
- Watch a Shark Tank video and identify the different requirements of Challenge Based Learning.
Set the ground rules for choosing groups/topics. Students should choose a big idea based on their interest, not people in the group. Allow students to get into groups, and brainstorm ideas.
HWHand out the Challenge Based Learning Graphic Organizer. Students are to develop a few possible Essential Questions from their Big Idea.
Days 3-15
Check to see if the first two sections of the graphic organizer are completed. Groups listen to each other’s essential questions, and land on ONE essential question. They are to report that Essential Question to the teacher, so it can be approved or tweaked, then recorded on the class spreadsheet.
Students then reword their essential question into an actionable challenge. They record this on the Graphic Organizer.
Students then begin to develop Guiding Questions, Activities, and Resources to guide their project. They research the answers to their guided questions, create surveys, conduct interviews, etc. to gather information to help answer their Essential Question.
Once they have enough information, students generate a solution, and a way to implement the solution.
Prior to implementing, they need to develop an evaluation tool. What will they use to judge whether or not their solution was successful?
After implementation, students assess the solution, reflect on the entire process, and present their project. Presentations can be very differentiated; video journals, formal proposals, PowerPoint, photo montage, a play by play explanation of their entire process, etc.
Evaluation
Students are evaluated on effort and problem solving. Even if their solution fails, so long as their effort was good, and their attempts at problem solving were exhaustive, students will score high.
Materials
Survey Monkey
iPads
Lab Time
PowerPoint Presentation
Challenge Based Learning Video
Challenge Based Learning Website
Energy Video
Words to Learn By Video
Citizenship Video (extra, no sound)
Shark Tank Video
Graphic Organizer
Classroom Spreadsheet
Lesson on Survey, Interviewing, and Research