Moving Forward with Project Based Instruction

Some fantastic Project Based Learning Ideas are floating around in the building today.

From correspondence with the teams this is what is on it's way to happening for PBL at Westlawn.

Math has identified certain units that lend themselves well to projects. They have also noted that there is a lot of potential in the higher stream classes for projects because, as far as teaching essential outcomes is concerned, they have been able to cover so much more this year. Additionally, they have identified some projects that can be beneficial for our 7-1 and 8-2 classes. This is what we can anticipate from Math:

• Silly Students, Fruit Loops are for counting.  aka) don't eat the fruit loops
• Plane Games. You need all Coordinates to Survive!
• Space Station Shapes Station - Good possible link to science here. 
• The Geometry of Westlawn School - A study using google maps and the building where we learn. Good Social Studies Geography Link here. 

Science is working on an exciting Grade 9 Space Based Research Project. All of us can play a role in getting all of  our grade nine students excited about research into Space. 

The Grade Sevens are also doing some kind of Plant Project. I don't have much detail yet about this one, but we can all talk to our grade sevens about agriculture, math and crops, or help find some poems and stories written about food (The Grapes of Wrath is probably out of reach, but there must be something). Maybe students can create LA objects that document whatever Plant Projects are being created! Great work Science, you are always a step ahead. 

LA and Social have dutifully assessed the writing of every single student in this school. That takes a great deal of mental energy, so thank you humanities team. I know they have some strong ideas brewing, and I can't wait to hear what they come up with. Grade Eights are studying the idea of social structure and global relationships through the Aztecs, so if anyone has some good ideas about how to turn that into an exciting project make sure you pass them along to humanities.

TLDR: 

Grade 7 - Fruit Loops Counting and Analysis and/or Coordinate Planes Games (maybe)

Grade 8 - Aztec something something awesome 

Grade 9 - Space, how could you not love learning about space?

You are all agents of motivation, doing noble work and it is beautiful!

These are Westlawn's Projects! Poster Created using Adobe InDesign 

The Role of Technology in Achieving the Vision of Inspiring Education

Imagine a connected district. An educational experience that flows through from kindergarten up to grade twelve. A connection that students keep through their post-secondary journeys and into their adult life.

Consider a space where administrators and teachers are able to share their learning accomplishments with the rest of the district and the world beyond. Why should there be a project happening at Jasper Place High School that the students from Westlawn don't know about and can't get involved in? If the students at Westlawn are hosting an event that involves their Filipino community why shouldn't they connect with the Filipino community at Afton and LaPerle? The connections between schools already exist, the catchments connect us, but they are not brought to the fore. This is how the catchment connections can be leveraged to bring together students, schools and communities and achieve the vision of engaging learners with their world and the technology within it.

Technology and the World of our students. CC licensed. 

Project Portals will highlight what schools are doing right. To motivate schools and administrators and teachers the project portal will call attention to the ground breaking work that is already being done at schools. The project portal can give prominence to the students that are doing things to understand their world and to change it. The project portal will offer guidance and ideas for other teachers that are motivated to helping their students do and achieve great things. With the portal we will be gathering the evidence that drives growth and say with pride to the world outside of education that, "these are our projects, this is our school board."

These are our Projects, and this is our School Board

How this can be accomplished is worthy of some elaboration. The first steps towards achieving this is to gain access into the schools and the thought makers within the school. The difference between my portal idea and other technology implementation plans is this isn't about technology. Technology will come in out of necessity. This is about schools creating projects that are real world and highly motivational. The technology implementation comes out of a necessity to do the job well and to be able to share the collective accomplishments. Schools will be encouraged to gather evidence of completion and, if possible, evidence of process to share in the projects portal. Classrooms would soon discover that a great deal of technology is needed to have a successful project.

The TIPS team, and the leadership responsible for implementation would have to be responsible for getting to schools to promote project based instruction, help teams of teachers visualize and implement project ideas. The TIPS team leader would have to be available to answer questions about and help generate ideas. If a teacher has a vision that she can communicate, the TIPS team leader should help her achieve that vision. Most importantly the TIPS team leader would be responsible for the hard work of documenting the journey, collecting evidence of completion, packaging the material so that it can be marketed effectively, and then delivering a Project Portal that is rich in inspiration and examples to the catchment and the school board.


After having encountered the ten competencies, that are contained in the ministerial order, it is easy to see how technology integration is critical. The answer to effective tech. integration and implementation is to help put the learning first and reveal the appropriate role of technology. Technology is the tool that connects, enables and empowers!