Thinking Through Project-Based Learning: Guiding Deeper Inquiry

by Jane Krauss, Suzie Boss

Overview

Everything you need to know to lead effective and engaging project-based learning!

Are you eager to try out project-based learning, but don′t know where to start? How do you ensure that classroom projects help students develop critical thinking skills and meet rigorous standards? Find the answers in this step-by-step guide, written by authors who are both experienced teachers and project-based learning experts.

Thinking Through Projects shows you how to create a more interactive classroom environment where students engage, learn, and achieve. Teachers will find

• A reader-friendly overview of project-based learning that includes current findings on brain development and connections with Common Core standards
• Numerous how-to′s and sample projects for every K-12 grade level 
• Strategies for integrating project learning into all main subject areas, across disciplines, and with current technology and social media
• Ways to involve the community through student field research, special guests, and ideas for showcasing student work

Whether you are new to project-based learning or ready to strengthen your existing classroom projects, you′ll find a full suite of strategies and tools in this essential book.

"Ensuring that students take the lead in critical thinking and problem solving is the key to success. This book provides educators with the tools to get students ready for real-world learning and collaboration."
—Tania E. Dymkowski, Instructional Support K-8
Hays CISD, Kyle, TX

"A well-written, engaging book that makes even a master PBL teacher rethink her ideas. A must for all!"
—Lisa Parisi, Teacher
Denton Avenue Elementary School, New Hyde Park, NY

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781483304489
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	03/05/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	216
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Jane Krauss is a teacher, author and consultant who does curriculum and program development designed to increase participation of girls and other underrepresented groups in computer science. She will gladly tell you why computational thinking is the fundamental literacy of our technical age!

Jane also writes and offers professional development internationally around the topic of project-based learning with technology. With Suzie Boss, she is coauthor of Reinventing Project-Based Learning: Your Field Guide to Real World Projects in the Digital Age (2nd ed., 2014, ISTE) and Thinking Through Project-Based Learning: Guiding Deeper Inquiry (2013, Corwin). 

In her free time, Jane enjoys dabbling in glasswork and mosaics, and keeps fit running and hiking on woodland trails just outside her door in Eugene, Oregon.

Suzie Boss is a writer and educational consultant who focuses on the power of teaching and learning to improve lives and transform communities. She is the author of 10 popular books for educators, most recently Project Based Teaching: How to Create Rigorous and Engaging Learning Experiences and Reinventing Project-Based Learning: Your Field Guide to Real-World Projects in the Digital Age, 3^rd Ed. She collaborated with award-winning teacher Stephen Ritz to tell his inspiring story about classroom innovation in The Power of a Plant. A regular contributor to Edutopia, PBLWorks National Faculty emeritus, and frequent conference presenter, she consults with schools and nonprofit organizations around the world interested in shifting to a more student-centered, innovative approach to teaching and learning. Active on social media (@suzieboss), she maintains a website at suzieboss.com.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Section One: Inquiry, the Engine of Deep Learning
1. The Whys and Hows of PBL
2. The Inquiring Human Animal
3. Making the World Safe for Thinking
4. The Thinking-Out-Loud-and-in-View Classroom
5. Designing Rich Learning Experiences
Section Two: Taking a Page From the Experts
6. Thinking Across Disciplines
7. Language Arts
8. Social Studies
9. Science
10. Math
11. The Project Spiral
Appendix A: Project Library
Appendix B: Discussion Guide
Appendix C: Professional Development Guide
Appendix D: Project-Based Learning Resources
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

"The Ultimate Guide to PBL. A well-written, engaging book that makes even a master PBL teacher rethink her ideas. A must for all! "

Lisa Parisi

"The book is filled with examples of how to teach and create critical thinking experiences in project-based learning. It fulfills it purpose of helping teachers have better projects that incorporate a high level of critical thinking and authentic learning. The project-based learning spiral provides teachers with the practical guidance they need in creating critical thinking and authentic learning experiences in project-based learning. "

Telannia Norfar

"This book pulls together related research and current theories of PBL, brain based learning, and inquiry. Any teacher or administrator interested in or doing Project Based Learning will find this book very useful. "

Jeanne R. Gren

"The book has several purposes (doing PBL rather than just preparing, supporting educators, presenting ways to develop 21st Century skills, and developing inquiry skills) which are clearly defined in the beginning and flows into each chapter. I believe the book makes a distinct contribution because it provides for practical applications in the classroom and for lively discussion in Professional Learning communities. "

Patricia Allanson

"I was inspired by the projects and the positive reinforcement the students received. "

Susan Harmon

"Ensuring that students take the lead is critical thinking and problem solving is the key to success. This book will provide educators with the tools to get students ready for real world learning and collaboration. "

Tania E. Dymkowski