PBL | Powerful Learning Practice

I used to think…

by Shelley Wright | Nov 8, 2012 | Less Teacher, More Student, Teacher Leadership 2.0, The Compelling Need for Change, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices

I used to think I was a pretty good teacher. Now I realize that I did the best I could with the knowledge I had, but my classroom was woefully inadequate for many of my students. I failed to equip them with what they needed. I now believe my students are competent to show me what they need, if only I take the time to listen and ask authentic questions. I’m becoming a better teacher by giving up a lot of what I used to think.

Venturing into Project-Based Learning

by Jenny Luca | Oct 19, 2012 | Less Teacher, More Student, Passion Based Learning, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices

“Iâ€™ve been reading about Project Based Learning for some time now,” writes international teacher-blogger Jenny Luca, “and struggled trying to find a way to integrate this kind of pedagogy into my regular English classroom practice.” This year Jenny and her teacher teammates included a 3-week PBL experience in their unit on Romeo and Juliet. “This has been one of the most rewarding activities Iâ€™ve been involved in this year. Iâ€™m invested in it and I can feel that passion for what I do apparent when Iâ€™m interacting with the students.”

Our favorite Project Based Learning Resources

by Powerful Learning Practice | Oct 11, 2012 | PD, Powerful Learning Practice

Grab this webinar recording and a whole page of curated content A passionate student is a learning student. As the world is becoming increasingly connected, the nature, use, ownership, and purpose of knowledge are changing in profound ways. Our goal as educators is to...

The Flip: End of a Love Affair

by Shelley Wright | Oct 8, 2012 | Less Teacher, More Student, Making The Shift, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices

Many teachers who opt for the flipped classroom strategy are not pursuing a student-centered approach to teaching and learning, says Shelley Wright. The traditional model is simply being reversed — not reinvented. The lecture (live or on video) is still front and center. “Learning isn’t simply a matter of passively absorbing new information while watching a lecture on video,” she says. “New knowledge should be actively constructed.”

My Mind-Mapping Classroom

by Jennifer Carey | Sep 26, 2012 | The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices, Web Tools That Deepen Learning

In this post I want to highlight my favorite Mind Mapping program â€“ MindMeister — and talk about several ways I use mind maps in my classroom. If you think you might like it as much as I do, you can participate in an opportunity to get a free professional account for a year. (Editor’s note: Winners of the MindMeister giveaway are announced in the comments section of this post.)