How to Move from Teacher to Project Facilitator

How to Move from Teacher to Project Facilitator

April 14th, 2019 Last week I witnessed magicians at work. And I wasn’t at a magic show. I was miles away from civilization, on a small island to observe 12 expert facilitators grow and develop 60 upper elementary students. Their magic was their ability to teach what...
Raising Stakes in Projects without Grades

Raising Stakes in Projects without Grades

That ‘Dirty LIttle Word’ Every time I lead a PBL workshop, the participants always dread Day Two. It’s the day we talk about that ‘dirty little word.’ Assessment. Most are surprised that such a topic could seep its way into what is supposed to be an...
From Project Zero to Project HERO

From Project Zero to Project HERO

Yesterday, at the end of a PBL training with three schools, I asked participants to reflect on their learning that day. Here’s a comment that stood out most: “I used to think project- based learning was somethingI would never be able to do, now I know I can do it.”...

Five Secrets to Building a Culture of Innovation

This past weekend I had the opportunity to visit one of the most innovative schools in the world, in one of the most unlikely of places.   Beijing, China.  The school’s name is Moonshot Academy. Not surprisingly, their vision is enormous.  They want to be a place that...
Do The Project First

Do The Project First

Have you assigned projects to students that you have never done yourself? I have. When I first began as a project- based teacher, I had very little ‘real world’ experience. And it showed. When I asked students to produce and publish their own books, I...