2012 Summer Institute
When: July 1-11, 2012
Where: Biosphere 2, Oracle, AZ
Who: Active 3rd-6th grade Arizona-based teachers
Course Description
Project Based Learning is an instructional approach built upon authentic learning activities that engage student interest and motivation. These activities are designed to answer a question or solve a problem and generally reflect the types of learning and work people do in the everyday world outside the classroom. Project Based Learning is synonymous with learning in depth. A well-designed project provokes students to encounter (and struggle with) the central concepts and principles of a discipline. Project Based Learning teaches students 21st century skills as well as content. These skills include communication and presentation skills, organization and time management skills, research and inquiry skills, self-assessment and reflection skills, and group participation and leadership skills. Project Based Learning is generally done by groups of students working together toward a common goal. Performance is assessed on an individual basis, and takes into account the quality of the product produced, the depth of content understanding demonstrated, and the contributions made to the ongoing process of project realization. Finally, Project Based Learning allows students to reflect upon their own ideas and opinions, exercise voice and choice, and make decisions that affect project outcomes and the learning process in general.
Combining these considerations, we define Project Based Learning as:
A systematic teaching method that engages students in learning essential knowledge and life-enhancing skills through an extended, student-influenced inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and tasks.
Participants for the institute will be selected through a competitive application process. The application will be on-line and will be active beginning on April 20, 2012. A unique aspect of this year’s institute is that participants will be selected as a team/partnership to facilitate the creation of a unit of study together. Exposure to technology and its effective use in the classroom will be covered and the institute will revolve around the themes of 21st century skills, collaboration, lesson study, and citizen science. Research scientists from Biosphere 2 and the University of Arizona will augment participants’ content expertise as teams design their projects. The institute will be a unique opportunity to facilitate collaboration among teachers of grade levels 3-6. For more information, please continue to visit the web site in the months ahead or contact Matt Adamson at 520-838-6137 or madamson@email.arizona.edu.
