Season 2 of the Impactful PBL Podcast ended in May which marked two years of this podcast. The podcast started as a “learn in public” project so that I can document my professional journey and share insights about what I’m learning about project-based learning. In this episode, I’m sharing a progress update on my 2021-2022 goals and why I'm pausing the podcast. Tune in to... Explore what it means to learn in public and why I started this podcast Hear why I'm shifting to building in public Examine successes & failures with my 2021-2022 professional growth goals Hear about my professional ..read more

Hey impact makers. In episode 11, I shared why I believe that project-based learning is great for distance learning. And since that episode, I've coached more teachers who are implementing project-based learning in a blended learning environment. Yes, teachers are experiencing a different set of challenges with implementing project-based learning in a blended or distance learning environment.  So the question becomes, Is it worth trying to implement PBL virtually? During this episode, we will explore why PBL is still valuable regardless of the learning setting. Tune in to hear: The chal ..read more

It's back to school time. Let's start with admitting that school will look different this year for most teachers and students.  I've heard about a variety of learning options that schools are considering for the 2020-2021 school year. Now many educators may be wondering...Can we still implement project-based learning in a remote learning environment? I think now is a good time to implement project-based learning. This month, we will explore strategies and brainstorm some ideas examining how to make this happen. In this episode, let's discuss why teachers should consider implementing proje ..read more

We are wrapping up our monthly professional development series. This week I want to share some common mistakes that hinder teachers' effectiveness with implementing high-quality project-based learning experiences. Can you believe that approximately half of the teachers that attended my project-based learning workshops last year reported that they had engaged in PBL training before? Yet, they still found it challenging to create a PBL culture in their classroom. Let's explore some common mistakes I've seen teacher leaders make when attempting to transform their PBL instructional practices and w ..read more

This month, we are starting our summer professional development planning series. As a professional development facilitator, you know I'm an advocate for ongoing professional development because I believe learning never ends. we will discuss how to take charge or own your professional growth. In this episode, we will consider how you might be wasting your time, the facilitators' time, and possibly your colleagues' time during project-based learning professional development sessions and what you should be doing instead. Are you ready to become a high-impact project-based educator? [FREE] Downl ..read more

Discussing the difference between project-based assessments versus project-based learning is a popular topic among educators. Therefore, I have this conversation with educators often. I understand why this can be confusing because, for some time, 'doing projects' or project-based assessments, project-based learning, and problem-based learning were used interchangeably. In this episode, we will discuss the difference between project-based assessments and project-based learning. In this episode, you will learn: The reason why teachers are confused about the difference between project-based ass ..read more

In this episode, we will explore how to plan a high-quality project-based learning experience for students. You will find several planning methods because, as you know, educators plan differently based on what works for them. After training hundreds of teachers on planning and implementing project-based learning experiences, I've found success with the method I'm sharing. I call my planning method, the Impactful PBL Roadmap.  I provide an overview of each step in this episode. In this episode, you will learn: How I designed the Impactful PBL Roadmap and how it supports educators in plann ..read more

Hey impact makers. Can you believe that we are halfway through the quarter? I previously shared that I've had several conversations about whether project-based learning could occur in a virtual learning format. Recently, a teacher shared that she was in a professional development session or class, and the facilitator stated that PBL wasn't for every teacher or every student. Since I'm a PBL advocate, the teacher wanted my perspective on the topic. During this episode, we will explore the question: Should some teachers avoid trying PBL in their classrooms? Do you have what it takes to implement ..read more

Like many places right now, where I live, students are learning remotely through a mix between asynchronous and synchronous methods.  I've been working with teachers on implementing project-based learning in a virtual environment. Therefore, I've been encouraging teachers to design instruction while considering what students might be experiencing during remote learning.  I began to reflect on my personal experience as a student learning remotely and facilitating professional development sessions virtually. In this episode, I share what I've learned as a remote learning student, how i ..read more

Phase 2 of the Impactful PBL Roadmap™ is to map the scenario and write a driving question. The initial scenario structure will involve first determining what students will learn (i.e. standards), thinking of a theme or topic second, and then writing the driving question. The next step is to draft a scenario. I've noticed that most teachers can select standards, a theme, and compose a driving question but some struggle with writing the scenario in its entirety. In this episode, we will explore how to write a compelling scenario for a PBL unit. Visit https://www.impactfulpbl.com/podcast/episod ..read more