When
I travelled to Finland with Bookbag Tours, I was most excited to learn about
the ins and outs of their elementary curriculum. I learned that a huge component of what they
do, and one reason for their overall academic success, lies in project-based learning
(PBL).
I travelled to Finland with Bookbag Tours, I was most excited to learn about
the ins and outs of their elementary curriculum. I learned that a huge component of what they
do, and one reason for their overall academic success, lies in project-based learning
(PBL).
By
definition, project-based learning is a teaching method where students gain
knowledge by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to
an authentic, engaging, and complex problem, question, or challenge.
definition, project-based learning is a teaching method where students gain
knowledge by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to
an authentic, engaging, and complex problem, question, or challenge.
While
at the Finnish Education Center, we learned more about PBL, thanks to our host and
fellow elementary teacher, Petteri Elo.
at the Finnish Education Center, we learned more about PBL, thanks to our host and
fellow elementary teacher, Petteri Elo.
He
explained to us that PBL must be student-driven, collaborative, and
flexible. Students (and teachers) must
have ample time and there must also be a guiding problem.
explained to us that PBL must be student-driven, collaborative, and
flexible. Students (and teachers) must
have ample time and there must also be a guiding problem.
While
not everyday will be productive, the teacher is there to coach and hopefully,
the next day will be productive. In
other words: it doesn’t have to be perfect.
not everyday will be productive, the teacher is there to coach and hopefully,
the next day will be productive. In
other words: it doesn’t have to be perfect.
Petteri
explained five key components of PBL and I’ll do my best to share with you:
explained five key components of PBL and I’ll do my best to share with you:
1.
Cross-Curricular:
We’re talking phenomenon-based
Cross-Curricular:
We’re talking phenomenon-based
2.
Student
Centered: Students are driving the process and creating for themselves.
Student
Centered: Students are driving the process and creating for themselves.
3.
Process
Orientation: the lens isn’t on the end product but the celebration of primary
goals embedded in the process (hardest for me because I realize that I love
tidy finished products!).
Process
Orientation: the lens isn’t on the end product but the celebration of primary
goals embedded in the process (hardest for me because I realize that I love
tidy finished products!).
4.
Skill
Orientation: It’s not just facts and content but transferrable skills.
Skill
Orientation: It’s not just facts and content but transferrable skills.
5.
Wide
Range of Resources: Students use experts to “open the doors of school.”
Wide
Range of Resources: Students use experts to “open the doors of school.”
 |
| American teachers exchanging ideas about PBL implementation at our own sites. |
In
Finland, they do at least one PBL project per school year but in Helsinki, they
do two phenomenon-based learning experiences.
Each one is 9 weeks long.
Finland, they do at least one PBL project per school year but in Helsinki, they
do two phenomenon-based learning experiences.
Each one is 9 weeks long.
Teachers
use Bloom’s Taxonomy in relation to the questions students answer, always encouraging
them to go a little above or beyond the basic understanding level.
use Bloom’s Taxonomy in relation to the questions students answer, always encouraging
them to go a little above or beyond the basic understanding level.
Students
find a topic and then write research questions.
Lower level questions are okay at first, since they build understanding. As the project continues, teachers coach in
to raise the level of thinking and problem solving.
find a topic and then write research questions.
Lower level questions are okay at first, since they build understanding. As the project continues, teachers coach in
to raise the level of thinking and problem solving.
One
example that upper elementary students had done last year was all about sustainable
development.
example that upper elementary students had done last year was all about sustainable
development.
Weeks
one through three were spent learning about physics, chemistry, geography, and
math as applied to sustainable development.
one through three were spent learning about physics, chemistry, geography, and
math as applied to sustainable development.
During
weeks four through seven, students went through the investigative learning
process.
weeks four through seven, students went through the investigative learning
process.
Finally,
the last two weeks (eight and nine) were spent back-tracking and assessing.
the last two weeks (eight and nine) were spent back-tracking and assessing.
 |
| Finnish high school students shared their own positive experiences with PBL. |
For
me, the biggest takeaways were to focus on the PROCESS and not the product.
Also, the teacher is a coach (a guide on the side and not a sage on the stage!). I’ve done genius hour projects and the
process of that does ring true or similar for much of this!
me, the biggest takeaways were to focus on the PROCESS and not the product.
Also, the teacher is a coach (a guide on the side and not a sage on the stage!). I’ve done genius hour projects and the
process of that does ring true or similar for much of this!
Have
you tried PBL in your classroom? It’s an
area I’d like to explore and grow in so I’d love to hear from you!
you tried PBL in your classroom? It’s an
area I’d like to explore and grow in so I’d love to hear from you!
Thank you so much for this post! First for me to learn about Bookbag Tours! I will for sure be taking one of thse trips! Second for posting about the weeks of PBL. I took a week long PBL class but I was having a hard time understanding how to fit lessons needed to cover objectives and student self exploration. I want to do a math PBL through a science subject. I was having a hard time figuring out how to teach the math concepts while doing science exploration. Your post has helped me better understand what I can do! Thank you!
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I would love more information on this!