Tour Time!

A Cross Curricular Problem Based Learning Project

Introduction

• Too readily, teachers have students perform mindless work.

• Students become fixated on a formulaic approach to solving problems.

• Students are not taught how to use their cognitive thinking skills to solve higher order problems.

Introduction Continued

• Ex. Read the next chapter and answer the 10 questions that follow.

• How can we move away from this type of teaching?

• For many, the answer has been Problem Based Learning.

Definition• Problem Based Learning is

a curriculum development and instructional approach that encourages students to identify interesting questions, identify problems, research those problems, and develop a way of sharing their results with others. Most often these are ill-structured problems which mirrors real-world scenarios (Steed, 2007).

Consider the Following…

• Your Grade 7 math class has recently completed their unit on Statistics and Probability (Data Analysis).

• They have been succumbed to the usual lecture style teaching method, agonizingly expecting another unit test, when…

Project Introduction

• A teacher led discussion is brought upon the students regarding bands of the 21st century.

• Different aspects of a band can be discussed.

• Ex. A band’s image, types of bands, what makes a band successful, etc.

Project Introduction Ctd.

• Once the groundwork has been set, the teacher can give the students the following handout:

• Tour Time! Student Handout.doc

• Students should be allowed to peruse the handout for some time, allowing them to gather their thoughts and ideas.

The Problem

• Your band has made it big in your home town, and it is time for you to share your music with the world!

• Design and Organize a real-life tour for your band, based only on the above premise, and the information found in the handout.

Outline of Activities

• In this project, students will use an inquiry based approach and technology to complete the following tasks:

• Create an advertising poster.• Write a business letter.• Write a report.• Create a budget.• Design an effective

presentation.

Teacher Work

• There are a number of teacher responsibilities for this project, namely:

• Booking computer labs.• Finding Internet links.• Planning enough time for

the project.• Knowing how to use each

technology properly.

Underlying Assumptions

• A number of assumptions come along with this project:

• Students know how to use Photoshop.

• Students can create a Word document.

• Students know the format of a business letter.

• Students can write a report and properly cite material.

Underlying Assumptions Ctd.

• Students can use a Spreadsheet.

• Students can create a PowerPoint presentation.

• There is a computer lab that contains all of the above technology and a projector for presentations.

• There are enough computers for all students.

Underlying Assumptions Ctd.

• At many Junior High Schools, teachers are subject specific.

• As will be seen, all the objectives met are from the Grade 7 curriculum, so the assumptions should be met sometime during the year.

Underlying Assumptions Ctd.

• The teacher will want to consult other teachers around the school for completion of the above assumptions.

• Some assumptions may have to be taught by the math teacher (e.g. Spreadsheets, Photoshop).

• It will be the teacher’s job to organize the project at a time when the students are adequately prepared.

Project In Motion

• The outline of each activity is explained extensively in the Student Handout provided.

• All sections of the project will be completed in the computer lab.

• Due to this, students will be able to work ahead of others.

Project In Motion Ctd.

• Throughout this project it will be vital for the teacher to become a facilitator.

• All background information and useful Internet links are provided for students, so very little instruction will be needed.

• Students will become responsible for their learning.

Project In Motion Ctd.

• The teacher will need to offer guidance with technology issues (Ex. Formatting a cell in Excel, taking a screen shot, etc.).

• The teacher will need to monitor students to make sure they are staying on task and working diligently.

Evaluation of Learning• In a Problem Based Learning

setting, the teacher has three main jobs (two of which are already covered):

• Curriculum Designer, Guide, and Evaluator.

• A rubric for each activity can be found in the student handout.

• Remember that process is also important, not only product. This is most easily seen in the peer presentations.

Assessment of Learning

• Through the peer presentations students will:

• Self illuminate and facilitate communication with others.

• Share their constructions with their peers, allowing questioning, and an opportunity to elaborate and justify their thinking.

Educational Strengths• This is an effective Problem

Based Learning Project because:

• It consists of a Real-world and Ill-Structured problem.

• Final product is aired publicly.• Great student individuality.• Cross Curricular Links.• Numerous problems for

students to solve.• Effective Technology

Integration.

Cross Curricular Links• One of the many advantages

of Problem Based Learning is it’s cross curricular links.

• By covering numerous objectives, students receive a well rounded education, preparing them for the real world.

• Here is a link for all of the objectives covered in this project: Cross Curricular Links.doc

Problem Solving Strategies

• Because this project is so multi-dimensional and rich with learning objectives, students will be solving numerous sub-problems that coincide with the main problem.

Problem Solving Strategies Ctd.

• These problems include:• What is the best way to portray a

band’s image?• How do I effectively gain the

confidence of a professional agent?• What worldwide cities are most

conducive to a band tour? How do you know?

• How do I create a budget so that I can make a profit? What is a sensible per diem?

• How can I create an effective presentation to portray my thoughts and ideas to my classmates?

Problem Solving Strategies Ctd.

• Throughout the project, students will encompass a number of problem solving strategies.

• The following link provides all the strategies used in this project: Problem Solving Strategies.doc

Integration of Technology

• This project encompasses a plethora of technologies, which include the following:

• Photoshop• The Internet• Microsoft Word• Microsoft Excel• Microsoft PowerPoint

Integration of Technology

• One major question this project faces is: Why use technology? What do students learn and/or accomplish by using the above technologies?

• The following rationale should provide some insight to these questions.

Rationale for Technology• Firstly, technology integration is a

mandated part of the Alberta Education Curriculum.

• By using these technologies, students will learn to communicate in ways that are becoming more and more influential in our society. This is most obvious in the peer presentations. How often in University do professors present lectures in a PowerPoint format? By creating this presentation, students will begin preparing for the real world.

Rationale for Technology Ctd.• By engaging with certain

problem solving strategies with the technology, students begin to synthesize abstract information necessary in solving the problem.

• Technology provides a framework that captures student interest. Hence, by keeping students interested and motivated throughout the project, the teacher will begin to see higher quality work.

Rationale for Technology Ctd.• Students have the opportunity to

access information that may not be available otherwise. For instance, without the Internet, students would have to phone various airlines and hotels in the hope of learning their company’s prices.

• In using technology in the Math and English settings, students may move past the traditional boredom associated with these subjects.

• The technology acts as an externalization tool and an extension to the students’ memory.

Rationale for Technology Ctd.• By using the technologies, students

get the opportunity to portray the problem in a different setting. By doing this, students may gain new insights to the problem. Hence, more learning styles are incorporated into the project.

• Technology provides students with a chance to perform tasks that they may not be able to do otherwise. For instance, many students have trouble drawing, but, with Photoshop, they can create a sophisticated art project.

Sample Work• I have chose not to include

sample work for every aspect of the project, mainly because it would be extremely time consuming.

• I have however created two samples for your perusal.

• Here is a link for a sample business letter: Business Letter.doc

• The next slide contains a sample budget.

Sample Work (Budget)

Resources• Alberta Education. (n.d.). Programs

of Study & Learning and Teaching Resources. Retrieved March 29, 2007, from http://ednet.edc.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/bySubject/

• Sosenke, F. (2000). World Tour. Retrieved March 29, 2007, from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume_27_1999_2000_/February7/World_Tour.htm#outline

• Steed, M. (2007). Problem Solving With Computers. Retrieved March 29, 2007, from http://classes.uleth.ca/200701/educ4762ol/

Resources Ctd.

• No information was taken directly from the following websites, but they would be helpful for students actually completing these activities. I also included these in the student handout.

Resources Ctd.• www.allmusic.com• www.ubl.com• http://rockhall.com/• www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/

Map_collection/map_sites/map_sites.html

• www.atlapedia.com/• www.indo.com/distance• http://www.citytown.info/Canada/• http://www.worldcitylinks.com/• http://usacitylink.com/• www.worldexecutive.com • www.travelocity.com• www.travelzoo.com