Why Project Based Learning?

Our world is changing…Schools are being increasingly affected by:A sense that further adherence to standards-

led drivers are unlikely to wrest any more significant improvements in performance

Rising levels of adolescent disengagementThe inability of ‘incrementalism’ in education

policy formulation to match the technology-driven, and rapidly changing world our young people inhabit.

“Learning Futures: Next Practice in Learning and Teaching” – Paul Hamlyn Foundation (2008)

The Framework for 21st Century Learning describes the skills, knowledge and expertise students must master to succeed in work and life.

21st Century Skills Framework

http://www.p21.org/Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Core Subjects and 21st Century ThemesMastery of core subjects and 21st century themes is

essential to student success. Core subjects include English, reading or language arts, world languages, arts, mathematics, economics, science, geography, history, government and civics.

In addition, schools must promote an understanding of academic content at much higher levels by weaving 21st century interdisciplinary themes into core subjects:

• Global Awareness• Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy• Civic Literacy• Health Literacy• Environmental Literacy

http://www.p21.org/documents/P21_Framework.pdfPartnership for 21st Century Skills

Learning and Innovation SkillsLearning and innovation skills are what

separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments in today’s world and those who are not. They include:

• Creativity and Innovation• Critical Thinking and Problem

Solving• Communication and Collaboration

http://www.p21.org/documents/P21_Framework.pdfPartnership for 21st Century Skills

Information, Media and Technology SkillsToday, we live in a technology and media-driven

environment, marked by access to an abundance of information, rapid changes in technology tools and the ability to collaborate and make individual contributions on an unprecedented scale.

Effective citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills, such as:• Information Literacy• Media Literacy• ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) Literacy http://www.p21.org/documents/P21_Framewo

rk.pdfPartnership for 21st Century Skills

Life and Career SkillsToday’s life and work environments require far

more than thinking skills and content knowledge. The ability to navigate the complex life and work environments in the globally competitive information age requires students to pay rigorous attention to developing adequate life and career skills, such as:

• Flexibility and Adaptability• Initiative and Self-Direction• Social and Cross-Cultural Skills• Productivity and Accountability• Leadership and Responsibility

http://www.p21.org/documents/P21_Framework.pdfPartnership for 21st Century Skills

Stripling Inquiry Model

Inquiry is a framework for learning

Choosing Web 2.0 Tools to Support Teaching and Learning in a Digital World, Pam Berger, Sally Trexler, Libraries Unlimited, 2010

Stripling Inquiry Model

Searching

Managing and Organizing

Social Bookmarking

Content Collaboration

Media Sharing

Social Networking

Choosing Web 2.0 Tools to Support Teaching and Learning in a Digital World, Pam Berger, Sally Trexler, Libraries Unlimited, 2010

Pedagogy Reframed

Engage

ment

Integration

Learning which is

deep, authentic,

and motivation

al

© Paul Hamlyn Foundation & The Innovation Unit 2008

Engagement (through)

Relevance: enterprise & inquiry led; knowledge & skills balance; learning

through doing; thematic & project emphasis

Co-Construction: negotiation of curriculum; content & delivery modes;

location; timetabling

Learning which is

deep, authentic,

and motivational

“Learning Futures: Next Practice in Learning and Teaching” – Paul Hamlyn Foundation (2008)

Constructivism:learning by

doing (Piaget, Dewey)

Multiple Intelligences:

personalization of schooling; higher order cognitive

skills(Howard Gardner –

Project Zero David Perkins – Smart Schools)

Inquiry-Based Learning:

discovery learning better than

didactic instruction(Helgeson 1992)

Cooperative Learning:

collaborative problem solving &

communication(Johnson &

Johnson 1989)

Process Writing:

Brainstorm, plan, organize, reflect, publish

Research

Shows Why PBL

Works

Connecting the Bits: NEA Foundation, 2000

Op-Chart; “ Where the Jobs Are” Michael Cox, NY Times (2004)

WHAT DOES MUSIC HAVE TO DO WITH

THIS?

Everything!!

A network of schools music labels

An international platform to engage young people through music

A work related environment for students of all learning styles to develop skills in Enterprise, ICT, Media and Music

A secure place for students to develop a digital portfolio for assessment

Learning SkillsThe NUMU model

encourages independent thinking, innovation and collaboration

Students with different learning styles can easily contribute to different areas of the creative process

Peer reviews encourage self assessment and development

Listener's charts provide motivation to develop organization and communication skills

Easily manage your students and monitor their progress

The digital portfolio provides a record of student development for assessment

Integrated communication tools allow you to easily give feedback to students

Supports the implementation of Musical Futures learning approaches

The Right Tools

Extra CurricularAccessible anytime from any

internet connection NUMU is ideal for dispersed learning

Gifted and Talented students can develop their skills through work related enterprise activities

The music business model engages young people excluded by standard learning environments

NUMU provides an opportunity to develop links in the local community eg. media, retail, venues etc

How “dbass” Works Each school/organization has their

own ‘label’ to manage on NUMU The label is managed by a

‘publisher’ who sets up and moderates the students or ‘artists’

Each ‘artist’ has their own page where they upload music, artwork and write their own blog

Anybody with web access can listen to the artists' music ‘trax’ Artists' can review and comment on each others work