Project Based Learning Kathryn Clark Walden University October 10, 2010
Imagine walking into a classroom where the students are engaged in learning activites. Conversations about the current subject matter are present. The teacher is walking around the classroom answering questions and facilitating. Many would agree that this environment would be ideal for students to learn in. Through problem based learning, classrooms can achieve this balance. Dr. Ertmer (Laureate Education, 2010) described problem based learning as a strategy in which the students learn content as they develop problem solving skills. This type of learning allows students to become self directed learners as well as learn how to work together.
Lesson Description/Standards In the following lesson, my sixth grade students will plan a meal on a budget for Bring your Parent’s to School Day. They will use flyers from local stores as well as the internet to find the best prices to stay within their budget. In class, students are working to master standard M6N1g – Solve problems involving fractions, decimals, and percents. Because this is a self-contained class, students often access the standards at a level they can achieve. This project will focus on soving problems involving decimals, which in this case will involve adding and subtracting amounts of money.
Step-by-Step Process After the teacher presents the opportunity of making a meal for Bring your Parent’s to work Day, the students will complete the following steps in two groups of three. Step 1: Each group will plan a meal. The meal will include a main dish, two sides, and a desert that will serve six adults. Students may use the internet to look up recipies or plan a meal they are familiar with cooking. Step 2: Students will use sales flyers and consult grocery store websites to find prices for the food items and ingredients they need. After they have found all items on their menu, they will be asked to find the total price, not to exceed $20.00. Step 3: After students have totaled up their expenses, the teacher will ask them if there is any way to cut their cost or save any more money. Students will be encouraged to use coupon sites to take a few dollars off of their final cost. This will allow students to work on subtracting problems involving decimals. Step 4: Once students have found and printed the coupons they plan to use, they will present a new total cost to the teacher. Step 5: Students will create a poster detailing each step of the meal plan. This will include a total cost of food/ingredients, as well as the total cost when coupons were applied. Step 6: Each group will present their plan to the class. Step 7: If approved, the students will travel to the store with the teacher to purchase the items. If not, the teacher will purchase the items and bring them to school for the students to prepare.
Diverse Learners For some students, adding and subtracting is still a challenge. If they can not complete the task with prompts from the teacher, they will be allowed to use a money calculator. The money calculator shows the entire problem punched in on the screen. It also gives students the option to enter bills and coins rater than monetary amounts.
Assessment The students will be assessed using a rubric. Students will be expected to keep the cost of their meal under twenty dollars. The poster must reflect the correct work of addition and subtraction problems. Their posters must aslo be neat in appearance. A sample rubric is shown below.
Exceeded
Met Expectations
Did Not Meet Expectations
Meal cost between $15.00-$20.00.
Meal cost between $20.00-$25.00.
Students were unable to determine the cost of the meal.
Correct examples of addition and subtraction were presented.
Examples of addition and subtraction were presented with few errors.
Students did not show evidence of addition and subtraction problems.
Project was presented neatly. Information was readable. Numbers were formed correctly.
Project was presented semi-neatly. Most parts of the poster were readable. Most numbers were formed correctly.
Project was not readable.
Dr. Ertmer (Laureate Education, 2010) suggested that project based learning experiences incorporate technology through out the process as well as end with a final product. I have incorporated these two points into my lesson plan and feel that this lesson will allow my students to use an authentic expereince while learning to solve problems involving decimals. This is an example of true authentic learning and assessment. Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2009) stated “In authentic assessment, students are required to demonstrate understanding of concepts and perform skills within the context of that authentic activity, by replicating the real-world performances as closely as possible” (page 147). As my students are engaged in this process, true learning will take place.
References Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Program Eight. Spotlight on Technology: Problem Based Learning - Part 1.[Video recording]. In integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Laureate Education, Inc
Kathryn, I think you have a good lesson. It is important for students to understand the value of a dollar. I think it was a good idea to teach adding and subtracting using a real world example. I was wondering if you have ever used photo story 3. The students can add pictures, text, and their voice to create their step by step meal plan. Finally, I think it is a fantastic that you will be preparing the meal with the students. This will be an experience the students will remember. Landon
Project Based Learning
Kathryn Clark
Walden University
October 10, 2010
Imagine walking into a classroom where the students are engaged in learning activites. Conversations about the current subject matter are present. The teacher is walking around the classroom answering questions and facilitating. Many would agree that this environment would be ideal for students to learn in. Through problem based learning, classrooms can achieve this balance. Dr. Ertmer (Laureate Education, 2010) described problem based learning as a strategy in which the students learn content as they develop problem solving skills. This type of learning allows students to become self directed learners as well as learn how to work together.
Lesson Description/Standards
In the following lesson, my sixth grade students will plan a meal on a budget for Bring your Parent’s to School Day. They will use flyers from local stores as well as the internet to find the best prices to stay within their budget. In class, students are working to master standard M6N1g – Solve problems involving fractions, decimals, and percents. Because this is a self-contained class, students often access the standards at a level they can achieve. This project will focus on soving problems involving decimals, which in this case will involve adding and subtracting amounts of money.
Step-by-Step Process
After the teacher presents the opportunity of making a meal for Bring your Parent’s to work Day, the students will complete the following steps in two groups of three.
Step 1: Each group will plan a meal. The meal will include a main dish, two sides, and a desert that will serve six adults. Students may use the internet to look up recipies or plan a meal they are familiar with cooking.
Step 2: Students will use sales flyers and consult grocery store websites to find prices for the food items and ingredients they need. After they have found all items on their menu, they will be asked to find the total price, not to exceed $20.00.
Step 3: After students have totaled up their expenses, the teacher will ask them if there is any way to cut their cost or save any more money. Students will be encouraged to use coupon sites to take a few dollars off of their final cost. This will allow students to work on subtracting problems involving decimals.
Step 4: Once students have found and printed the coupons they plan to use, they will present a new total cost to the teacher.
Step 5: Students will create a poster detailing each step of the meal plan. This will include a total cost of food/ingredients, as well as the total cost when coupons were applied.
Step 6: Each group will present their plan to the class.
Step 7: If approved, the students will travel to the store with the teacher to purchase the items. If not, the teacher will purchase the items and bring them to school for the students to prepare.
Diverse Learners
For some students, adding and subtracting is still a challenge. If they can not complete the task with prompts from the teacher, they will be allowed to use a money calculator. The money calculator shows the entire problem punched in on the screen. It also gives students the option to enter bills and coins rater than monetary amounts.
Assessment
The students will be assessed using a rubric. Students will be expected to keep the cost of their meal under twenty dollars. The poster must reflect the correct work of addition and subtraction problems. Their posters must aslo be neat in appearance. A sample rubric is shown below.
Dr. Ertmer (Laureate Education, 2010) suggested that project based learning experiences incorporate technology through out the process as well as end with a final product. I have incorporated these two points into my lesson plan and feel that this lesson will allow my students to use an authentic expereince while learning to solve problems involving decimals. This is an example of true authentic learning and assessment. Cennamo, Ross, and Ertmer (2009) stated “In authentic assessment, students are required to demonstrate understanding of concepts and perform skills within the context of that authentic activity, by replicating the real-world performances as closely as possible” (page 147). As my students are engaged in this process, true learning will take place.
References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2010). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Program Eight. Spotlight on Technology: Problem Based Learning - Part 1.[Video recording]. In integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore, MD: Laureate Education, Inc
Kathryn,
I think you have a good lesson. It is important for students to understand the value of a dollar. I think it was a good idea to teach adding and subtracting using a real world example. I was wondering if you have ever used photo story 3. The students can add pictures, text, and their voice to create their step by step meal plan. Finally, I think it is a fantastic that you will be preparing the meal with the students. This will be an experience the students will remember.
Landon