Project Based Learning for All Classrooms

3 PLUs | 45 Hours

$0.00
$0.00
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  • Instructional Strategies
Project Based Learning for All Classrooms K-12 teachers professional development course

Course Description

Project Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching method that, when implemented successfully, can prepare our students for a world we can’t yet imagine. With PBL, we can teach our students the 21st century skills they’ll need for the jobs of the future. PBL focuses teaching and learning around engaging, real-world contexts and problems. Tying content to real-world issues makes the rationale for learning transparent to students, and set them up to draw connections between what they’re doing in school to what they’ll need to do in life and career later on.

The goal of this course is to show participants that PBL is possible with any group of students, in any setting, under any conditions, and to teach participants how to plan and implement PBL with their unique group of students. After dispelling some common myths about PBL and building a case for PBL and 21st century learning, the course walks participants through each step of the PBL planning process, from brainstorming an authentic project idea to planning a culminating product that showcases what students know. It’ll also cover how to ground a project in standards, to how to differentiate for different learners, how to assess students throughout a PBL project, and how to build a culture of inquiry that makes the work of PBL possible. The course wraps up by showing participants how to convince various stakeholders of the many benefits that PBL can provide to every student, and suggesting strategies for implementing PBL at a school- or district-wide level.

This course’s final project asks participants to write their own PBL project plan to bring back to their own setting. Participants will be prompted to complete certain steps of the planning process throughout the course, which will culminate in the writing of a project plan for implementing their project idea.

Objectives

As a result of this course, teachers will:

  • Justify the importance of PBL and 21st century skills, particularly in relation to issues of equity and the future of jobs.
  • Modify PBL to work for any student, in any setting, and over any period of time, and give examples of how to start small with PBL and cultivate a culture of inquiry.
  • Generate ideas for authentic projects, public products, and driving questions that are grounded in both standards and 21st century skills.
  • Plan backwards from standards and learning goals to design authentic assessments and student-driven inquiry.
  • Determine whether your own PBL project meets the standard of “Gold Standard PBL” by judging it against the Eight Essential Elements of PBL.

To Register/Enroll in a Course:

Register:

  • Register with Pioneer RESA.
  • Type “online” (without quotes) in the Search Box and select SEARCH.
  • Once you find the course you want to register for, click on the course title and select Register at the bottom of the page.
  • Complete the RESA Registration Process including payment (tuition).
  • Once you have registered, Pioneer RESA will email you a prepaid enrollment code.
  • Note the enrollment code and return to our Pioneer Resa PLUs page to enroll in your course. For additional information concerning these online courses please contact:
    Susan Proctor, Professional Learning Coordinator at 706-865-2141 Ext. 244 or
    Carly Dixon, Support Staff - Professional Learning, at 706-865-2141 Ext. 223.

Enroll:

  • Begin at CE Credits Online Pioneer RESA.
  • Select your course and click “Add to Cart”.
  • Review cart and click “Login”.
  • If you’re a new user, click “Create account”. If you’re a returning user, log in with your email and password.
  • You will now be returned to the cart. Enter your enrollment code and click “Validate”.
  • Click “Check Out”.
  • Complete your order by entering your contact information. Click “Continue to Payment Method”. (You will not be charged or need to enter a credit card number)
  • Click “Complete Order”.
  • If you are a new user, you will receive an automated email from Schoology with your initial eClassroom Sign in information.
  • You have 180 days from your enrollment date to complete your course.

If you have any questions, check out our FAQs or email support@cecreditsonline.org.

Graduate-Level Professional Development Credits

  • We have partnered with regionally-accredited universities who provide graduate-level professional development credits for our courses. See University Partners tab. All courses taken for graduate-level credit receive both a Certificate of Completion for your records and an official University Transcript.
  • Upon completion of your course, please email CE Credits Online at support@cecreditsonline.org and let us know you wish university credits and from which university you wish to receive those credits. CE Credits Online will email you instructions and will forward all the required documentation to the University you selected, once you have paid for the credits. Credits are $55/credit.
  • The University partner will process your course completion and provide a transcript that includes the name of the course, course number, number of credits, and your grade.
  • You will receive directions on how to receive your transcript in email form, and you can also review the University Partners section of our website for more information.
  • You must check with your district to ensure the credits received will meet your specific requirements. We will not be held responsible if your school, district or state does not accept the credits issued.

Professional Learning Units (PLUs):

  • Upon successful completion of your course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion for your records that will include the name of the course and number of professional development hours completed.
  • The Certificate of Completion is designed as a record that verifies that a professional development course was taken and passed.
  • Contact Susan Proctor, Professional Learning Coordinator at 706-865-2141 Ext. 244 for PLU processing.

How PLUs are calculated:

  • 15 hours = 1.5 PLUs
  • 30 hours = 3 PLUs
  • 45 hours = 4.5 PLUs