
Impactful PBL Podcast
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Candice Wilson-McCain is a curriculum and instruction specialist who helps educators plan and implement memorable learning experiences-mostly through project-based learning. On this podcast, Candice provides resources, tips, and support to help educators craft learning experiences that empower their students to tackle challenges in school and their community through project-based learning.
Impactful PBL Podcast
2w ago
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Have teachers implemented a PBL unit but have not seen immediate results? Are you wondering if it's worth continuing? You're not alone. In fact, this is one of the most common reasons schools abandon their PBL initiatives - but here's why that's a costly mistake.
This episode reveals a crucial insight: building an effective PBL initiative takes time, typically spanning three years for full implementation. The impact of project-based learning directly correlates with the fidelity of implementation, but many schools cut their journey ..read more
Impactful PBL Podcast
3w ago
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Are you wondering how teachers can use predesigned project-based learning curriculum but still make it authentic for students? Most teachers prefer to have ready-to-facilitate lessons but also worry that the resources may not meet their students' academic needs and interests. This feeling leaves educators wondering how to solve this dilemma.
Don't worry. In this episode, you'll discover:
How to identify and integrate local issues into existing PBL units
Practical ways to incorporate student voices and choices
Strategies for c ..read more
Impactful PBL Podcast
1M ago
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When launching project-based learning initiatives, school leaders often ask teachers to create resources from scratch or modify existing curricula. While this might seem cost-effective, it's actually compromising both teacher effectiveness and student outcomes.
This episode explores why teachers shouldn't create project-based learning resources from scratch and reveal a concerning trend I've observed while working with schools. Talented educators spend countless hours on curriculum development instead of focusing on what they do bes ..read more
Impactful PBL Podcast
1M ago
Do you have a topic to suggest or insight to share? Text me.
Is your project-based learning initiative struggling to gain traction? You're not alone. Many schools invest in PBL training only to see enthusiasm fade and implementation stall. But there's a crucial element that successful PBL schools have discovered: the power of teacher communities.
Our latest article explores how communities of practice amplify project-based learning impact by revealing why isolated PBL implementation often falls short – and how teacher collaboration transforms theoretical knowledge into sustainable practice ..read more
Impactful PBL Podcast
2M ago
Do you have a topic to suggest or insight to share? Text me.
Project-based learning (PBL) holds the transformative power to engage students actively, foster collaboration, and develop essential problem-solving skills. While PBL yields numerous benefits, implementation has its challenges.
Common challenges teachers face include:
Adapting to a facilitator role
Leveraging technology effectively
Aligning projects with academic standards
Conducting frequent formative assessments
Differentiating instruction to cater to students' needs
Therefore, a comprehensive teacher development prog ..read more
Impactful PBL Podcast
2M ago
Do you have a topic to suggest or insight to share? Text me.
What's one of the biggest challenges instructional leaders face? Viewing project-based learning as separate from their priority initiatives.
You're focused on reading scores, math benchmarks, and other pressing goals. PBL feels like a luxury you can't afford right now.
But what if PBL could be the framework that makes your existing initiatives more effective?
In this episode, we will explore how project-based learning:
Naturally aligns with your current curriculum goals
Integrates multiple subjects into one meaningful project ..read more
Impactful PBL Podcast
2M ago
Do you have a topic to suggest or insight to share? Text me.
Remember the last time you sat through a professional development session that had absolutely nothing to do with your needs? That sinking feeling of wasted time while your actual challenges went unaddressed? Let's avoid accidentally hosting a dreadful professional development experience for project-based teachers.
It's time to flip the script on traditional professional development. Instead of top-down mandates, we're advocating for something revolutionary yet simple: letting teachers help design their own professional learning journ ..read more
Impactful PBL Podcast
2M ago
Do you have a topic to suggest or insight to share? Text me.
Picture this: You're excited to bring project-based learning to your school. Your teachers say they're experienced with PBL, and you're ready to dive into advanced implementation strategies.
Sounds promising, right?
But here's what we recently discovered at one school: While leaders believed most of their teachers were PBL-savvy, a simple needs assessment revealed that less than half had actually used project-based instruction in their classrooms. This gap between perception and reality could have derailed their entire implemen ..read more
Impactful PBL Podcast
2M ago
Do you have a topic to suggest or insight to share? Text me.
Hey impact makers. Last week, we explored some ideas to assess students during project-based learning, which, if done correctly, will help teachers monitor student's academic progress. I recently received questions from teachers who are implementing project-based learning in a blended learning environment requesting ideas for completing phase six of the Impactful PBL Roadmap, which is to track students' progress. As an educator, you know how important it is to monitor students' progress toward goals. During this episode, we will expl ..read more
Impactful PBL Podcast
2M ago
Do you have a topic to suggest or insight to share? Text me.
Are you struggling to connect teacher professional development with actual student growth in the classroom? You're not alone, and here's the good news: there's a way to ensure every step of teacher growth directly impacts student success!
In this episode, we explore how to help teachers make professional development plans that are meaningful to them and impact students' academic outcomes. We challenge the idea that teacher development and student outcomes are separate journeys.
In fact, when you pair them together, you create a ..read more