High Level Design

Project Based Learning in the Classroom

BY: CARLA RAVAZZANO

ETEC 651

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

ROAD MAP

Job 1

Teachers will teach project based learning lessons related to mathematical concepts.

OBJECTIVES

Given the material needed

to prepare project based

learning, teachers will

create project based math

lessons for the rest of the

year

Given the students,

teachers manage

classroom behavior for

every math lesson

Given time to prepare

project based lessons,

teachers will teach project

based lessons on the

mathematical concepts for

every new concept being

introduced

Given the extra support in

the classroom , teachers

caters to the needs of all

students 90% of the time

Given that teachers use

project based learning in

the classroom, teachers

observe that students can

apply mathematical

concepts in every new

lesson that is taught

12 3 4 5

1 – Classroom Aid

2 – Ready Made Lessons

3 – Mentor a Teacher

4 – PBL Convention

5 – Step by Step Guide

6 – Are my Students Learning?

7 – Cater to Special Needs

8 – Sharing is Caring!

9 –Teacher of the Week

10 –My Self Improvement

Resources and Tools

Expectations/Feedback

Consequences/Rewards

Environmental

Supports

Person’s Repertory of

Behaviour

Skills & Knowledge

Individual Capacity

Motivation

Road Map Legend

Junior

Junior

Junior Medium Senior

Junior Medium Senior

Junior Medium

Senior

All Performers

Principal

Principal

All Performers

Intervention – Classroom AidUsers: New Teachers

Genre: Integration Specialist

Phase in Performance cycle: Junior Objectives:

Communication Medium: Integration Aid in the classroom

Level of Performance Issue: Resources/Feedback/Individual Capacity

Description: The purpose of this intervention is to address the need for additional resources in the classroom for

new teachers. The integration aid would accompany the teacher and help to keep students on track, manage

behavioral issues, and provide feedback to the teacher regarding the lessons taught in class. The integration

aid would be available three times a week and would stay with the teacher throughout the entire period of the

class. The performers will expect feedback and tools to help with classroom management and improve

teaching performance.

Advantages: The integration aid can provide classroom management feedback to the teacher as she observes

his or her teaching. When students are expected to work after a lesson has been taught, both the integration

aid and the teacher can split up the class into smaller groups and provide additional support.

Limitations: The integration aid and the teacher may not have similar behavior management techniques. If the

two are not in agreement on how to manage the classroom or do not have similar teaching styles, this can

become problematic.

2 4

Intervention : Ready Made LessonsUsers: New Teachers and Experienced Teachers

Genre: Lesson Template Objective:

Phase in Performance cycle: Junior – Medium – Senior

Communication Medium: Google Drive (Online)

Level of Performance Issue: Environmental - Resources

Description: The purpose of this intervention is to provide lesson plan templates for new and experienced

teachers. Since project based learning is relatively new for all the teachers at the school, teachers will have

access to lessons plans that have already been taught in other schools for all subjects. Teachers will have

access to the lesson plans on a google drive folder and they will be able to download them and adapt the

lessons according to their students level. Performers will benefit from these lesson plans and improve their skills

on creating project based learning lessons.

Advantages: These lesson plans will reduce the workload for all teachers in the school. Teachers can also add

the modified lesson plans to this folder for other teachers in the school to use. In doing so, teachers will have

more time throughout their spares to work on corrections or provide one on one support to students.

Limitations: There will not be a lesson plan for every given concept that teachers must teach throughout the

year. There will only be a few for every given subject.

1

Intervention – Mentor a TeacherUsers: New Teachers

Genre: Mentoring

Phase in Performance cycle: Junior Objectives:

Communication Medium: In Person or Online

Level of Performance Issue: Environmental Support - Feedback

Description: The purpose of this intervention is for new teachers can have a mentor to guide them and support

them with the new project based learning methods integrated at the school. This intervention addresses the

necessary feedback that teachers will need to ensure that they are teaching the concepts in the correct way.

Teachers will be assigned a mentor depending on the subject that they teach. The mentor will be a well

experienced teacher that will come observe the teachers if the teacher requests it. The mentor and teacher

can meet and discuss concerns or/and provide tips and feedback to the teacher. The mentor will set short term

and long term goals for the teacher and guide the teacher on how to achieve his/her goals. However, there

will no assigned time in which the mentor and mentee need to meet.

Advantages: The advantages of having a mentor is so that teachers feel that they are receiving proper

guidance and feedback on their new teaching style.

Limitations: The mentor is not obliged to attend the teachers classroom on a regular basis to observe the

teacher’s teaching style. The mentor on attends if the performer requests for additional feedback.

4 5

Intervention : Project Based Learning Convention Users: All Teachers

Genre: Teachers Conventions

Phase in Performance cycle: Junior – Medium - Senior Objectives:

Communication Medium: Face to Face

Level of Performance Issue: Environmental Support/Resources

Description: The purpose of this intervention is to provide all teachers will materials and ideas

on how they can make project based learning more appealing to students. Teachers will be

able to attend this convention twice every year. There will be several booths depending on

the subject that they teach. Teachers will be able to see examples of project based learning

lessons that have already been created by other teachers in various schools. Teachers will

also have the opportunity to speak to students to get their perspective and see examples on

their work already completed. Teachers will be given free samples of materials that could be

useful to them depending on the subject that they teach.

Advantages: The advantages of this teacher’s convention will be for teachers to connect

with other teachers and share ideas on teaching project based lessons. In addition, they will

be getting materials that they can try out with their own students and see if it is worth

purchasing for the entire school. Teachers will be more prepared as they will have the

necessary materials to carry out their lesson.

Limitations: Teachers may not have the time to attend the teachers convention as it takes

place outside of school hours.

1 3

Intervention – Step by step Lesson Plan GuideUsers: Experienced Teachers

Genre: Online Teacher Guide

Phase in Performance cycle: Medium – Senior Objectives:

Communication Medium: Online Resource YouTube Tutorial – PDF Step by Step Guide

Level of Performance Issue: Environmental Support/Resources

Description: The purpose of the online step by step lesson plan guide is for experienced teachers that are not in need of a mentor, but would still be in need of a guide to help them plan their project based lessons. This would be a resource that teachers would have access to at all time. They can watch a YouTube tutorial that guides them through the various steps of how to plan their lesson. The video would have a narrator that demonstrates a step by step guide and provides tips on how they can modify a lesson depending on the students level. Teachers would also have access to a lesson plan template along with a step by step guide on what to include in each section of the template.

Advantages: The advantages of this intervention is that more experienced teachers that are not in need of an aid or mentor, can follow a simple online tutorial that provides them with the information that is needed to create their project based learning lessons.

Limitations: The YouTube tutorial is very general and does not cater to any given subject. It provides some examples, but does not provide an in depth guide that a beginner teacher may need.

3

Intervention – Are my Students Learning?Users: Experienced Teachers

Genre: Poster

Phase in Performance cycle: Senior Objectives:

Communication Medium: Print

Level of Performance Issue: Environmental-Tool

Description: The purpose of this intervention is for experienced teachers that do not need external support. This intervention will serve as an additional tool in the classroom. It is a poster that will include questions and visual cues as a reminder to teachers when they are teaching. The poster will provide tips on what teachers should ask their students to ensure that they are retaining what they are learning and to manage behavior throughout any given lessons.

Advantages: Students will be able to see what is expected from them during a lesson as the visual cues will show how the students should be working. In addition, they will already havean idea about what questions will be asked. Teachers will be able to use this tool aid in theirevery day teaching.

Limitations: The suggested questions that are provided on this poster may not always fit the lesson or the concepts that are being taught in the classroom. Therefore, teachers may not always see it as a useful tool for every given lesson.

5

Intervention: Cater to Special NeedsUsers: New & Experienced Teachers

Genre: Webinar

Phase in Performance cycle: Junior – Medium - Senior Objectives:

Communication Medium: Online

Level of Performance Issue: Resources

Description: The purpose of the intervention Cater to Special Needs is both for new and experienced teachers. As teachers integrate project based learning, teachers need to be able to know how to modify and adapt for all students. The webinar is given by a special needs teacher that demonstrates effective techniques on how to modify, adapt and engage students with special needs. This teacher has different webinars for different subjects and for types of learning disabilities that teacher could be faced with in their classroom. Teachers that struggle modifying or adapting for their students will benefit from these webinars. The performers will expect innovative techniques on how to adapt and modify a lesson plan to ensure that the student is learning at their appropriate level.

Advantages: Both new and experienced teachers will see this intervention as advantageous because as they are faced with a plethora of students learning needs, it will provide themwith new methods of introducing information.

Limitations: The webinars only take place once a month at 2 specific given times throughout the week. It could be difficult for some teachers to attend the webinars if they are unavailable outside of school time.

4

Intervention – Sharing is Caring!Users: All Teachers and Administration Staff

Genre: Outing

Phase in Performance cycle: Junior – Medium - Senior

Communication Medium: In Person

Level of Performance Issue: Behavior – Motivation & Environmental Support

Description: The principal of the school will provide a free breakfast for the teachers once a

Month to show appreciation regarding all the work and time teachers dedicate to their job.

Teachers will have access to an abundance of food during this breakfast and will have the

opportunity to share any accomplishments that they have reached throughout that month.

These accomplishments can vary from student successes or if they feel proud about any

given lesson that was taught.

Advantages: The advantages of this intervention is for the principal to develop a stronger

relationship with the teachers at the school. Teachers claimed that they were feeling

unappreciated; therefore, this gives the entire staff at the school a time together to connect

and share accomplishments or concerns that they may be having throughout the school

year.

Limitations: The breakfast date may not be suitable for all of the teacher’s schedules.

Objectives: 1-2-3-4-5

Intervention – Teacher of the Week Users: Principal and Administration

Genre: Incentive Program

Phase in Performance cycle: N/A

Communication Medium: Public Audio Announcement

Level of Performance Issue: Behavior/Environmental - Reward

Description: As a form of appreciation towards the teachers, the principal and the administration will select one “Teacher of the week” to post in the teacher staff room. The teacher will receive a gift card as a form of motivational incentive. The purpose of this intervention is to show teachers that they are being recognized for the work that they do for the school. This can vary from teaching accomplishments to helping out staff members and students. The principal and other administration staff members (i.e. secretary) will observe throughout the week on how teachers are performing. The teacher of the week will beannounced on the intercom during the last period of the week and at the end of the day, they will receive their prize.

Advantages: Teachers will feel appreciated by the administration and principal of the school. It will motivate them to work on their professional development as teachers.

Limitations: It may be difficult to keep track of teachers’ accomplishments every week. Some accomplishments may go unnoticed.

Objectives: 1-2-3-4-5

Intervention – My Self Improvement Users: All Teachers

Genre: Evaluation Tool

Phase in Performance cycle: Junior – Medium - Senior

Communication Medium: On Paper

Level of Performance Issue: Feedback and Motivation

Description: The purpose of this intervention is for teachers to self reflect on their professional

development. Teachers will be given and asked to fill out a self improvement sheet where

they answer a series of questions regarding whether or not they are implementing the Project

based learning methods in their teaching.

Advantages: Teachers will not only be able to reflect on their accomplishments, they will also

be able to provide feedback to the principal regarding any concerns or challenges that they

may be faced with during their teaching. This will inform the principal and allow him to take

action in order to support the teachers needs.

Limitations: Incapable of being able to identify what their weaknesses are or where they

would need extra support.

Objectives: 1-2-3-4-5