PBL in Action: A District-Wide Movement with Ashley Curtin | E16
This episode features Ashley Curtin, a district coach from Calvert County, Maryland. Calvert County's PBL movement began in social studies and has expanded across subjects and schools. Ashley will share concrete examples of PBL units, discuss local context, authenticity, and the integration of CTE programs. PBL is bringing hope and joy to classrooms.
Ashley's Work and PBL in Calvert County
* Ashley is a district coach working with PBL teachers.
* The PBL initiative started in social studies to increase engagement and has spread across the district.
* Ashley is now under Career Technical Education (CTE) funding and is building relationships with CTE instructors.
* She connects teachers and suggests collaborations.
* A key to her approach is meeting people where they are at with their mindset and comfort level with PBL.
PBL Unit Examples
* Eighth Grade Science & Culinary Arts:
* An eighth-grade science teacher developed a project about invasive species, initially thinking about a cookbook.
* The project shifted to educating the public about invasive fish in the Chesapeake Bay and Puxon River.
* Students created posters, social media posts, and websites with QR codes to educate the community.
* Culinary program seniors developed recipes for invasive fish, which were judged in a "Chopped" style competition.
* The eighth graders then featured these recipes on their websites and in their outreach materials.
* The project culminated in presentations to community partners, including the Department of Agriculture and local restaurant owners.
* Third Grade Storybook Project:
* A third-grade team created storybooks about different regions of the United States.
* The project integrated science, social studies, and ELA standards.
* Students recorded themselves reading the books, which were accessed via QR codes in the front covers.
* They sold the books to families, and the project culminated in an author signing event with over 150 attendees.
Roses, Buds, and Thorns
* Rose (What’s going well):
* The shift to CTE funding is a big win.
* CTE programs already have authenticity, so the focus is on infusing pedagogical practices and PBL structures.
* Bud (Promising practices):
* PBL is now a strategic goal for the district.
* There is work with math instructors, and an effort to reimagine education with PBL.
* The adaptability of the PBL framework is allowing it to take shape in different ways.
* Thorn (Challenges):
* Ashley's capacity to support the growing PBL movement is limited.
* There is a need to convince more decision-makers to invest in PBL and create core leadership positions.
* Some teachers who signed up for training are reluctant to fully embrace the PBL mindset and implementation.
* Ashley wants to encourage these teachers without making them feel like they are being dragged along.
Addressing the Challenges (Thorns)
* Capacity: The need for more resources and core leaders in buildings and across grade levels/content areas is a significant challenge.
* Hesitant Teachers:
* Invite teachers to observe successful PBL classrooms.
* Invite teachers to participate in tuning protocols.
* Provide opportunities for collaborative support and reflection.
* Share a PBL newsletter to highlight best practices and provide resources.
* Highlight teachers and their work in a positive way in order to give them affirmation.
Getting Administrative Buy-In
* Track data like student engagement, attendance, and discipline to show the impact of PBL.
* Share positive stories from PBL classrooms with principals to improve community perception of the school.
* Promote the idea of training coaches to implement PBL in individual schools.
* Highlight that educators can learn from their own colleagues and don't necessarily need to travel to conferences.
Optimism about Education
* PBL is re-engaging teachers and showing them the power of their work.
* It shifts teachers' views of students, moving away from negative assumptions.
* PBL has the power to transform education and engage students long after the project is over.
Resources
PBLShare.com [pblshare.com]
PBL Movement Online Community (PMOC) [https://magnifypbl.mykajabi.com/pmoc]
