Project-Based Learning Overview

Project-Based Learning Assessments

Learning by Design: Build San Francisco Institute

First-Class Citizens: Civics Isn't Just a Course - A Laboratory of Democracy

Minnesota New Country School (the first Edvisions School)

A Day in the Life - Although no two days at MNCS are alike, a rough schedule (but no bells) guides staff and students. What follows are small glimpses of one day at MNCS.
http://www.whatkidscando.org/specialcollections/student_learning/Dayinthelife.html

Student/Advisor Interviews - Keven Kroehler, an advisor at MNCS since 1997; Barbara, an 11th grader at MNCS.
http://www.whatkidscando.org/specialcollections/student_learning/Pointsofview.html

Student Work - Samples of projects from MNCS students.
http://www.whatkidscando.org/specialcollections/student_learning/Studentwork.html

Forms and Reports - Forms and Reports used at MNCS.
http://www.whatkidscando.org/specialcollections/student_learning/forms.html

High School for the Recording Arts (an Edvisions Network School)

Fatimah - Sophomore at HSRA – Homelessness Project
Fatimah discusses her ongoing project on homelessness in America. She has drawn on her own experiences of 'being in the struggle' as well as interviews and class activities.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrnnxScvmNc

Keith - Advisor at HSRA – Fatimah’s Project
Keith explains the academic standards that Fatimah met with her project. He also comments on the importance of project-based learning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-E3yygWb1o

Kane – recent graduate HSRA – Homelessness Project
Kane, a recent graduate of HSRA, takes us through his project on Homelessness in America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQBcART8NFg

Chrishan Dotson – Sophomore at HSRA – Video History of HSRA
Chrishan, a sophomore at HSRA, explains the process of his project- a video history of HSRA- and what he learned as a result, where his motivation came from, and how he grew as a student.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUh-38RkLSc

A video history of High School for Recording Arts (HSRA)
By Chrishan Dotson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P08hh56ct4U

Education | Evolving Interviews HSRA Student Tsenay Epps
Interviewed by: Carl Phillips
Camera: Chrishan Dotson
A/V Editing: Chrishan Dotson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvZTFRvsN9c

Avalon High School (an Edvisions Network School)

Sophia - Student at Avalon
Sophia describes her project, American Revolution #9, a comic book on the American Revolution and what she learned from the experience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlUlwkQ9Zlw

Pete - Advisor at Avalon
Pete, advisor of Sophia, comments on how the project-based format allowed him to push Sophia, an already excellent writer, to diversify her skills in that area by creating a comic book on the American Revolution.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eVZ-4S4bec

Lee - Student at Avalon
Lee describes his project documenting and reflecting on his participation in a play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUH4qhCV3V0

Kevin - Advisor at Avalon
Kevin talks about his student Lee's project on documenting the production process behind a play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFceSujbkuI

Tally - Senior at Avalon
Tally discusses the process of an Avalon senior project, and the major parts of her project in which she designed and ran a hypothetical no-kill animal shelter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4widkk6QC1M

Geri - Advisor at Avalon
As a supplement to Tally's video, Geri explains the importance of Tally's project process as well as the in depth academic learning that took place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YHmgYi6VjI

Seymour Papert on Project-Based Learning

1. On the powerful impact of project-based work.
2. On what must change in schools to better accommodate project-based learning.
3. On how computer technology connects students’ interests with powerful ideas.
4. On what assessment should look like in a project-oriented classroom or school.
5. On the need to reinvent mathematics instruction in schools.
6. On the importance of teachers learning alongside students.
7. On reconciling dreams about the future with the reality of today’s classrooms.
8. On the role that vision plays in producing real change.

For Teachers

EdVisions holds a Summer Institute each year of all of the advisors from EdVisions school across the country. At this conference teachers model project-based learning by creating a project to produce their first 10 weeks of curriculum for the upcoming year as well as a project to create their Professional Development Plan (PDP), equivalent to the students' Personal Learning Plan (PLP).

Check out this video from the last Summer Institute (click the Play button twice):