A Case for Problem-Based Learning

For this assignment, you need to assume the role of a classroom  educator. This can be based on a class that you are currently teaching,  one that you have previously taught, or one that you hope to teach in  the future. Suppose you are participating in a department team meeting  with the other teachers in your grade level discussing an upcoming  unit.. One of the teachers indicates that she plans to distribute the  same packets she used last year and schedule five days of independent  seat work for her students to complete the packets by locating answers  in the course textbook. This would be followed by a written exam  covering the material in the packets.
 

You have been aware for  some time that the students in this teacher’s class are frustrated,  bored, and worst of all, not really learning anything important about  the content as shown through the student data. This could be your  opportunity to get her to try something new and more valuable to  students. You explain to this teacher that you plan to implement a  week-long problem-based learning experience for your students, involving  group projects, computer time, and class presentations; you would like  to share this plan with her and to partner together on the project.

In this assignment, you will apply principles of project and problem  based learning (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcGOe_JsXUY) to the  design of a specific learning experience within a culturally relevant  and collaborative learning experience that facilitates the 21st century  skills of creativity and innovation. Review the Week Five Instructor  Guidance for detailed assistance on preparing for and completing this  assignment, including access to resources that will help you identify  the characteristics of problem-based learning environments. Next, create  your assignment to meet the content and written communication  expectations below.

• View the video, problem-based and project-based learning (PBL2) (Links to an external site.), Create a general plan that includes the following six components:

1. Overview of the general problem you will establish related to the topic, including the following: 

   A brief description of the grade, subject, and demographics of the class.
   An overview of how student groups will be assigned and monitored.
   A description of the project that will need to be developed by the group and presented to the class.
   Common characteristics of problem-based learning, addressing an open-ended problem posed to each learning group (see guidance).

2. An explanation of how the creativity and innovation with 21st  century skills are learned and/or specifically applied within the  project.
3. An explanation of how culturally relevant strategies are included/applied within the project.

(9 points)

** Feel free to use this opportunity to design/revise a plan that you will be teaching in the future.**

If you are enrolled in the MAED Program, it is imperative that you  keep copies of all assignments completed in this course. You will return  to them for the portfolio that you will create in your final MAED  course. This portfolio is a culminating project that will demonstrate  that you have met program outcomes.

Review this week’s Instructor Guidance for additional information  about completing this assignment. Contact your instructor for  clarifications about this or any assessment in the course before the due  date using the “Ask Your Instructor” forum. Then, also using the  Grading Rubric as a guide for your performance on this assignment,  construct your assignment to meet each of the content and written  communication expectations.

Review your assignment with the Grading Rubric to be sure you have  achieved the distinguished levels of performance for each criterion and  submit the assignment for evaluation no later than Day 7.

• Must be at least two to three double-spaced pages in length (not  including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA  style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external site.).
• Must include a separate title page with the following:

  Title of paper
  Student’s name
  Course name and number
  Instructor’s name
  Date submitted

• Must use at least three scholarly, peer-reviewed, credible sources in addition to the course text.

  The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources table  offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have  questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this  assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the  final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a  particular assignment.

• Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• (1 point)

Carefully review the 

Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.)

 for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.