Prior Knowledge

OK Class...look at this picture and answer some questions...

Who is this lady?  
What is her job?  
Why is she famous?  
What's up with all the jewelry?
Where is she from?
Who were her enemies?


NOW: Make a pamphlet that answers all of these questions by Friday.

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(It's Queen Victoria by the way...)

THIS IS NOT PBL!

Kids need guidance from us so they can learn to work on their own.  We are not completely out of the picture when we use Project Based Learning.  We are planners, facilitators, monitors,  and we will take on many other roles defined by the projects we assign.

Project Based Learning will provide places for students to do inquiry-based learning rather than teacher-centered learning.  We can provide context for them in the form of an ENTRY EVENT before they begin their projects.

A GREAT point made on the Google questionnaire:

"I am not sure how students will learn by doing without prior knowledge."

You are right!  Students need some prior knowledge and structure.  Prior knowledge is essential for students to do well on a PBL.  

PBL calls it an ENTRY EVENT!

ENTRY EVENTS will:

1. Provide a place to share the DRIVING QUESTION
2. INSPIRE students to want to do a great job
3. CLARIFY teacher expectations for the project

We already do these when we hand out packets, show examples of old projects, and give students information on how to find sources.  What we need to do is JAZZ these presentations up!  That will take work and planning on our parts.

One of my favorite running quotes says: 
"I'm not telling you it is going to be easy; I am telling you it is going to be worth it!"

Taking the time to make a great ENTRY EVENT will inspire your students.  If you do a really good job on it, you can always use it again next year to make it a tradition!  


"Ooh Mom!  When I am in Mrs. Maples class someday, I can search for that Polonius guy, too..."

Try adding one of these things to your ENTRY EVENT:

• a video
• a slideshow of sample projects
• meeting in a different location
• a class activity 
• a guest speaker