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The Project

The Project

Written by: PBLWorks
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 The Project brings you conversations and interviews about educators' experiences with Project-Based Learning.PBLWorks The Project Education
Episodes
  • EPISODE 6: The ‘Breaking Bias’ Project: Helping Students Identify Bias and Understand Diverse Perspectives

    EPISODE 6: The ‘Breaking Bias’ Project: Helping Students Identify Bias and Understand Diverse Perspectives
    Aug 18 2020
    In this special episode of The Project, Stanley and Laureen are virtually sitting down with a group of teachers across three high schools to discuss their joint PBL project called Breaking Bias. The goal for this project was for students to listen and learn from one another, to understand what bias is, and to better equip them to disarm bias in the future. Students shared their perspectives from three different schools in three very different areas of the country — and on top of that, during a pandemic! Joining the discussion today is Josh Baldwin, a history teacher at Liberty North High School in Liberty, Missouri; Liz Ruddell, an English teacher from Liberty North; Tara Harvey, an instructional coach also at Liberty North; Rachel Harcrow an English teacher at Young Women’s College Prep in Rochester, New York; and Samuel Texeira, a high school history teacher at the Henderson Inclusion School in Dorchester, Massachusetts.   Together, the Breaking Bias team discusses, in-depth, what the project is all about; why it was so important to connect this project across multiple schools; how they designed the project with equity in mind for students; how students have reacted to the project; and both the positives and the challenges they faced during implementation.   Key Takeaways: [:32] About today’s episode. [:55] Stanley and Laureen welcome the five guests to the podcast and they each introduce themselves. [1:49] What the Breaking Bias project is all about! [3:57] The ‘why’ behind Breaking Bias: why it was important to connect this project across schools. [5:35] Some background on Joshua and Liz. [5:48] How they designed this project with equity in mind for students (and not only just for the classroom, but society as a whole). [9:42] How the Breaking Bias team believed that this project would benefit students. [11:03] How technological tools help to support the project and how the team was able to make time to plan across schools. [12:40] How have the students reacted to the project? How has their thinking changed across the course of the project? [14:57] The team shares about some of their most positive parts of the project’s implementation as well as some of the most challenging parts of its implementation. [18:26] Now that they have completed the project, what would they have done differently? And what would they do the same? [22:36] The team offers some recommendations for teachers that want to teach PBL online after the experience of doing this project.   Mentioned in This Episode: PBLWorks The ‘Breaking Bias’ Project Flipgrid Liberty North High School Young Women’s College Prep Dr. William W. Henderson Inclusion School   Twitter Quotes (for Social Media Use):   [1:54] “The title of the project is ‘Breaking Bias,’ so we wanted to challenge our students with this idea of, 1) Identifying what bias is and understanding what it is as a concept … and then, 2) Making progress towards what [we can] do about [it] now that we know what it is.”   [7:20] “I think, … we often get afraid to talk about race. … So, one of the things we started the conversation around … was reminding students that everybody has implicit bias, whether you’re a person of color, white, man or a woman, old or young. We all carry these biases.”   [8:21] “In order to solve the problem of [inequity] we have to be honest about where we’re all coming from.”   [23:12] “PBL can still happen outside of the four walls of your classroom. And not only can it happen, but it can be truly meaningful work that goes on. So don’t think just because you don’t have your classroom to work out of that PBL can’t happen.”   [23:32] “Be flexible. Especially in an online sphere, but also be willing to try a new variety of technology even if you haven’t ever used it in your classroom.”   [24:17] “As [teachers], we have to constantly be willing to learn ourselves and put ourselves out there and model that for our students.”
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    26 mins
  • EPISODE 5: The Education All Students Deserve: Dinah Becton-Consuegra and Carlos Moreno on Equitable Education Through PBL

    EPISODE 5: The Education All Students Deserve: Dinah Becton-Consuegra and Carlos Moreno on Equitable Education Through PBL
    Aug 18 2020
    In this episode of The Project, Stanley and Laureen are joined by guests, Dinah Becton-Consuegra and Carlos Moreno! Carlos Moreno is an educational trailblazer committed to supporting school and district leaders in creating high-quality, non-traditional schools designed to tackle systemic issues related to equity in education. He currently serves as Executive Director for Big Picture Learning, a nonprofit organization that, since 1995, has developed over 150 such schools in the United States and throughout the world.   Dinah Becton-Consuegra is currently an equity consultant for PBLWorks, and previously served as the organization’s Director of Partnership Development. Prior to her roles with PBLWorks, Dinah was the West Regional Director for EL Education, a K-12 PBL-focused non-profit partnered with more than 150 schools in 31 states. A focus on closing the opportunity gap has been a primary driver in Dinah's 20 years in education.   Together, Carlos and Dinah explore the topic of equitable education and what we can do as teachers and leaders to close the opportunity gap. They speak about the sorts of schools they’re working for, how they are redesigning them with equity in mind, and the important hallmarks of equitable education. They also offer advice to teachers and leaders about what they can do to make PBL more accessible and how they can begin to make a shift toward more equitable outcomes for Black and Brown students.   Key Takeaways: [:32] About today’s episode and guests! [1:48] Stanley and Laureen welcome Dinah and Carlos to the podcast. [1:54] Kicking off the podcast with a fun question, Stanley asks Dinah and Carlos who their favorite rap artists are (and their favorite hip-hop lines)! [4:18] As Executive Director of Big Picture Learning, Carlos’s focus is redesigning schools with equitable education in mind. What types of schools are they working with? And what are some of the hallmarks of equitable education? [8:44] Dinah chimes in with what she believes to be the hallmarks of equitable education. [10:46] Bringing project-based learning into the mix, Carlos elaborates on his quote, “PBL isn’t just curriculum; for some students, it’s a lifeline.” [14:23] What does meaningful learning look like with all of this emergency, remote learning? And how can we support equitable access to it? [22:27] Dinah shares the advice she would give to teachers or leaders about what they can do to begin making a shift toward more equitable outcomes for Black and Brown students. [26:22] Carlos speaks about the notion of love, equity, and what teachers should spend time on before stepping into the classroom. [28:27] Laureen and Stanley thank Carlos and Dinah for joining The Project!   Mentioned in This Episode: PBLWorks Big Picture Learning Carlos Moreno’s LinkedIn Dinah Becton-Consuegra’s LinkedIn EL Education Bryan Stevenson’s TEDTalk: “We Need to Talk About an Injustice”   Twitter Quotes (for Social Media Use):   “There’s no better time for PBL to support equitable access to authentic learning for students.” — Dinah Becton-Consuegra   “I think the first piece [of advice] I would give teachers or leaders is just to start with [themselves]. … Do the internal work of examining your own racism, your own hidden biases, and how they’re impacting your teaching or leading.” — Dinah Becton-Consuegra   “Pay attention to power dynamics. Pay attention to who speaks. Pay attention to who doesn’t. Pay attention to which students are engaged [and] which ones aren’t … and do some follow-up. … Strive to be constantly adaptable and … willing to … shift.” — Dinah Becton-Consuegra   “In my own organization, we’ve been grappling with the question of what the future ... should look like. … The most important step for us, … was to … acknowledge that this [pandemic] was something very different than anything any of us had experienced.” — Carlos Moreno   “We have to ensure that all of the strengths, challenges, and opportunities that come along with these awesome groups of young people in communities that they belong to, are being considered in every fabric of this new design that folks are working on.” — Carlos Moreno   “These … different times just require teachers letting go of this structure [and] power dynamic where they feel like they have all the answers or need to have all the answers.” — Carlos Moreno
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    29 mins
  • EPISODE 4: This Teachable Moment: Finding Opportunity for Real Change in How We Educate Our Kids

    EPISODE 4: This Teachable Moment: Finding Opportunity for Real Change in How We Educate Our Kids
    Aug 18 2020
    Today on The Project, Laureen Adams and Stanley Richards are joined by the CEO of PBLWorks, Bob Lenz! CEO Bob Lenz joined PBLWorks five years ago. Before that, he was the co-founder of Envision Education, a charter school network which puts into practice a highly successful redesign model that opens a path to college for underserved urban students in three Bay Area high schools. Bob is recognized nationally as a leader in high school redesign, Project Based Learning, 21st-century skills education, and performance assessment. He is the author of Transforming Schools Using Project-Based Learning, Performance Assessment, and Common Core Standards, and most recently the eBook, This Teachable Moment: Engaging Our Kids in the Joy of Learning.   In their conversation today, Laureen, Stanley, and Bob discuss how this current pandemic is impacting the present and the future of education and Project Based Learning, and what educators can do to support their students during this time. Bob speaks about the importance of finding joy in the midst of these challenges, how parents can get their kids involved with PBL over the summer. He also shares his hopes and vision for the future of learning as we head into the unknowns of the new school year.   Key Takeaways: [:32] About today’s episode with PBLWorks CEO, Bob Lenz! [1:07] Laureen and Stanley reflect on their careers and when they first met Bob Lenz. [2:25] Laureen and Stanley welcome Bob to The Project. [2:38] Bob shares what is currently top of mind for him and PBLWorks with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. [4:20] How this current pandemic is impacting the present and the future of Project Based Learning [7:16] Bob speaks about some of the PBL-friendly changes that might happen in education as a result of this pandemic as well as what educators should be rethinking. [10:27] Bob shares his top advice for teachers and leaders about how to support their students during this time. [12:28] How educators can support parents during the quarantine. [13:54] How parents can get their kids involved with PBL over the summer. [15:54] Laureen shares two PBL projects from the eBook she co-authored with Bob, This Teachable Moment. [18:00] Bob shares his hopes and vision as we wind down the school year, head into the summer, and prepare for the unknowns of the new school year.     Mentioned in This Episode: PBLWorks Bob Lenz | PBLWorks Envision Education Transforming Schools: Using Project-Based Learning, Performance Assessment, and Common Core Standards, by Bob Lenz, Justin Wells, and Sally Kingston This Teachable Moment: Engaging Our Kids in the Joy of Learning, by Bob Lenz and Laureen Adams   Twitter Quotes (for Social Media Use):   “The quality of the feedback and the ultimate plans that teachers are making for projects are higher quality than we had in-person!” — Bob Lenz   “I would encourage teachers and leaders to prioritize engagement and motivation to learn as the highest priority for students as they are having to shelter in place.” — Bob Lenz   “We’re … hopeful that parents will really take … this idea that this … is a teachable moment … and, … armed with some of the content from our book, [This Teachable Moment], we hope that they’ll use that to advocate for project-based learning for their learner.” — Bob Lenz   “This [pandemic] is a teachable moment and a turning point around education that heads us in a direction of project-based learning and having a high-quality project-based learning experience.” — Bob Lenz   “I am cautiously hopeful that this [pandemic] is going to be a… huge opportunity… to reset towards a future where engagement, … motivation, and cultural responsiveness is the order of the day, … [rather than] test-based accountability” — Bob Lenz
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    21 mins
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