Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation

Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 1

Project Based Learning &

21st Century Skills

Set the stage to engage!

Introduction – Welcome

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 2

• CSTP 1.5 - Promoting • CSTP 1.3 - Connecting

critical thinking through subject matter to
inquiry, problem meaningful, real-life
solving, and reflection contexts

• ISTE: Domain I: • CSTP 2.4 - Creating a

Fostering a rigorous learning
Collaborative Culture environment with high
to Support Student expectations and
Learning appropriate support
for all students

Share objectives and what the presentation focus is.

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 3

When you were in school, what was a project or lesson that you remember?

Hook – ask teachers to reflect on graphic; allow think time

and a few moments to share

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 4

• What is interactive?
• Were you able to share your talents, such as
creativity, musical ability, theatrical skills, problem
solving, etc.?
• Were you asked to create or build something?
• Did it incorporate multiple subjects?
• Did you work independently, with a partner, or in a
group?
• Did it have multiple steps? Did you have a rubric?
• Was it rigorous? Did you feel positively challenged?

Refer to thinking questions – what components of that

memorable lesson made it a lasting memory for you?

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 5

Share definition of what Project Based Learning is and watch

video explanation by John Spencer.

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 6

Why is PBL important for our students? Refer to graphic and

share .

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 7

Begin with curriculum that you are excited to teach

PBL sounds wonderful, but getting started may seem

intimidating. How to get started…here are a few thoughts to
help you begin planning your own PBL lesson.

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 8

Set clear
outcomes and
attainable
goals

Begin with project objective – develop clear outcomes.

Now you try…allow teachers to share with neighbor one unit

or lesson that pops into their head that they may start
planning with.

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 9

Will the activities positively challenge and engage my students?

Now you that you are thinking of that unit, what would be
the objective you want your students to accomplish? What
do you want your students to do?
- Share examples of Ancient Greece Day, Career Day, etc.

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 10

Create
opportunities
for students to
exercise
CHOICE

Once you have clear goals and objectives in place, start

thinking about learning tasks. Students need to have the
opportunity to choose how to accomplish the task and share
their understanding.
- Share examples of Choice Board activities, and refer to “A
Trip to the Afterlife: Ancient Egypt Mummification”

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 11

• Rubric and project guidelines

should be given both verbally
and in print (digital or handout)
• Allow student input
• Create clear expectations

Thinking about how to give students credit for their efforts

may seem a challenge. However, create clear guideline and
allow for students to give input. Make sure to be flexible and
adapt throughout project tasks…some things may work and
others may need to be adjusted.

Also, not everything task needs to be graded. Allow for both

informal and formal and formative and sumative
assessments to happen.
- Give examples

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 12

Critical Problem
Creating
Thinking Solving

Share ideas and examples for each.

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 13

How are my students

going to share their
knowledge and
unique talents?

Give ideas on how various tasks and activities that cover the
different multiple intelligences.

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 14

• How will students

be assessed for
their efforts?
sumative and/or
formative?

• How will students

be able to
present or share
their work?

Once you know how you will assess students for their
understanding and execution of the project, also think about
how they will be able to share their work. This is a very
important step when completing a PBL lesson/unit.
- Give ideas from lessons.

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 15

• Make sure to set clear outcomes and attainable goals

• Create opportunities for students to exercise CHOICE
• Rubric and project guidelines should be given both
verbally and in print (digital or handout)
• Be flexible…things will not always go as planned; adjust
or modify as you go; allow student input
• Allow student opportunity to share understanding through
rigorous tasks utilizing multiple intelligences, 21st Century
skills, and real world connections
• Assess student learning throughout the creative process
& project tasks based on learning objectives.
• If it is fun & challenging, students will be engaged!

Review the reminders and explain.

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Enhancing Curriculum – Teacher Leadership Presentation
Presenter – Megan Gabler Runnells

Slide 16

Credits:
Gonzalez, Jennifer. Project Based Learning: Start Here.
www.cultofpedagogy.com (2016)

Heick, Terry. 13 Brilliant Outcomes Of Project-Based Learning: Teach Thought.

www.teachthought.com (2018)

Spencer, John. The Creative Classroom.

https://www.youtube.com/user/OurSocialVoice/featured

How will you Set the

stage to engage?
Thank you for your time and have fun planning your next PBL lesson 

Remember to ask yourself…how you will you set the stage in

your classroom for greater student engagement?

Thank you for your time and have fun planning!

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