Project-Based Learning and the Common Core!

Many educators already have made a shift in the direction of Project-Based Learning (PBL) in recent years as research has shown just how effective it can be in broadening and deepening students' knowledge-base and in helping students develop connections between concepts and applications, and in improving their communication skills.

You may be wondering, though, just how project-based learning might intersect with the Common Core State Standards, and what resources might be out there to help educators ensure that their project-based learning strategies are aligned with CCSS.

This blog post from Edutopia.org, is a great place to start! In this post, "The Role of PBL in Making the Shift to Common Core," Sara Hallermann and John Larmer present six big ideas that help educators understand exactly how PBL and Common Core go hand-in-hand. The takeaway, as they explain, is that "Common Core has embedded within it some Big Ideas that shift the role of teachers to curriculum designers and managers of an inquiry process." PBL puts that inquiry process front-and-center, and encourages students to take ownership of what they're learning about.

For a more in-depth look at the connections between Common Core and PBL, you can check out this FREE PBL WEBINAR from ASCD.org. Led by Andrew Miller, the webinar explores the essential elements of PBL, and the best ways of ensuring that PBL units are aligned to Common Core. Be sure to check out the supporting resources, handouts, and slides!

Ed Tech and Early Learners

Most educators can agree that technology is here to stay, and that 21st-century classrooms and schools cannot afford to pretend otherwise, or they risk letting their students fall behind in an increasingly tech-integrated world. Yet the magnitude and the role of technology in learning--especially when it comes to preschoolers--are not always clear, and experts often have differing ideas about how much tech is too much tech for the earliest learners.

If you're interested in exploring some of the issues--from studies about the impact of screen time on early brain development to a list of best technology integration practices for educators working with early learners--then take a look at this article from Education Week: "Proper Role of Ed Tech in Pre-K a Rising Issue." It surveys some of the questions and challenges surrounding ed-tech and early learners, and offers links to some helpful resources.

Here are a few more places to read up on the issues:

• The nonprofit group Sesame Workshop offers a list of research-driven BEST PRACTICES for tablet use with preschool children.
• Check out the POSITION STATEMENT from the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media.
• Take a look at the FAQ PAGE on CHILDREN AND MEDIA from PBS.org.

These are important questions to be asking as educators--start exploring the research and the ideas, and get involved in the conversation!