Get Social: Using the Pepper People Network

Pepper is a community of learners. Being part of this growing learning community offers extensive opportunity for collaborating and sharing. Educators are encouraged to network within the Pepper community. This allows for educators around the nation to interact, learn, share, and promote ideas with one another. 

The "People" search feature is a valuable component of Pepper. Using the “People” tab in Pepper allows the user to search and filter for others in the Pepper Community. The “People” search can be found on your main dashboard and within your course menu.

Searching from the main dashboard will allow for a broad search of all Pepper users.

Searching from within the course will return results of participants enrolled in that course.

The Pepper People search option allows users to apply filters when searching for peers. Filters for narrowing results include options such as grade level, subject matter, location, experience, and school demographics.

Search results return to the right of the search box. From there, click on another user’s name to open a new tab displaying their personal dashboard. From there, you can learn more about them, view the courses they are enrolled in, as well as review and comment on items in their course portfolio. You can also click to add other educators to your personal network.

To see who's in your network, click on “View My Network”. If another educator adds you to their network, you will receive a notification, and likewise, when you add them them. To remove an educator from your network, simply click the red “X” next to their status.

You can find more detailed information about using the Pepper People Network in your Pepper User Guide. Take advantage of this powerful feature that allows educators to collaborate, share, and learn with others from around the country. Building your personal network also allows you to share Chunks of content with others who are in your network.

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Project Based Learning: Creativity and Engagement

Engaging students in project based learning activities can provide deep learning experiences. Project based learning, according to the Buck Institute for Education (BIE), is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge. The BIE website lists the following essential elements that should be included in Project Based Learning designs:

• Key Knowledge, Understanding, and Success Skills - The project is focused on student learning goals, including standards-based content and skills such as critical thinking/problem solving, collaboration, and self-management.
• Challenging Problem or Question - The project is framed by a meaningful problem to solve or a question to answer, at the appropriate level of challenge.
• Sustained Inquiry - Students engage in a rigorous, extended process of asking questions, finding resources, and applying information.
• Authenticity - The project features real-world context, tasks and tools, quality standards, or impact – or speaks to students’ personal concerns, interests, and issues in their lives.
• Student Voice & Choice - Students make some decisions about the project, including how they work and what they create.
• Reflection - Students and teachers reflect on learning, the effectiveness of their inquiry and project activities, the quality of student work, obstacles and how to overcome them.
• Critique & Revision - Students give, receive, and use feedback to improve their process and products.
• Public Product - Students make their project work public by explaining, displaying and/or presenting it to people beyond the classroom.

During the 2013-2014 school year, Elizabeth Forward Middle School created a DREAM Factory by combining art, technology education, and computer science. In this project, students became entrepreneurs where they worked in teams to design, create, and market a new candy bar. Their final project was the creation of a 30 second commercial marketing their candy bar and their company that created it. This project, highlighted in the Edutopia blog, Finding the Sweet Spot: Creativity, Candy, and Commerce, is a bright example of well-designed and implemented Project Based Learning.
Project Based Learning has the potential to develop deeper learning and understanding for students, thus better preparing them for College and Career Readiness goals. (http://bie.org/about/why_pbl). Implementing this approach in the classroom requires a change in methods and preparation for teachers, but the result of student engagement and learning is often worth it.
Many of the courses available through Pepper will provide a foundation of understanding that will allow teachers to move toward a Project Based Learning classroom approach. Check out our wide range of Pepper Courses and our Pepper Resource Library to further your own professional growth.
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