PBL Project - Professional Development Portal

Our Professional Development Portal was created to give curriculum leaders and other administrators the tools to train their team on the basics of Problem-Based Learning and the PBL Project website.  The resources have been provided below so that you can access them at your convenience and at any location. 

Please feel free to open, show, and even edit the Powerpoints that have been provided.  There is also a video walk-through that goes through each Powerpoint in detail, which can be used as a personal tutorial or shown directly to teachers during a Professional Development session.  Enjoy!


Watch the "3-Minute Training" Video


 

Session 1:  PBL Philosophy

In this session, you will learn about:

  • the reasons for the term "Problem"-Based Learning
  • the importance of integrating Problem-Based Learning into today`s classrooms
  • the key elements of a strong Problem-Based Learning scenario
  • common misconceptions of Problem-Based Learning scenario
  "The Philosophy behind Problem-Based Learning" (Powerpoint)
   View a video "walk-through" of the Powerpoint  (23-minute runtime | narrated by Gayle Hinton)
     
 
View Full Size Video

 
Session 2:  PBL Integrated Scenarios

In this session, you will learn about:

  • the navigation of the PBL Project website
  • the layout of the Problem-Based Integrated Scenarios
  • the range of content provided with each PBL Scenario
  • the different options for integrating PBL resources into classroom instruction
  "Problem-Based Integrated Scenarios within the PBL Project website" (Powerpoint)
   View a video "walk-through" of the Powerpoint  (22-minute runtime | narrated by Gayle Hinton)
     
 
View Full Size Video

 
Session 3:  PBL Thinking Exercises

In this session, you will learn about:

  • the goal of different Problem-Based "Thinking Exercises"
  • the specific features of Critical Thinking Exercises, Creativity Drills, and Woodchuck Problems
  • the variety of strategies used to develop different areas of PBL Thinking
  • the ways to access the Thinking Exercises on the PBL Project website
  "Problem-Based `Thinking Exercises` within the PBL Project website" (Powerpoint)
   View a video "walk-through" of the Powerpoint  (15-minute runtime | narrated by Gayle Hinton)
 
View Full Size Video

 
Session 4:  "Technology-Enhanced" Assessments

In this session, you will learn about:

  • the different types of "Technology-Enhanced" Assessments and why they fit into the PBL Project
  • the steps for launching a "Technology-Enhanced" Assessments for students
  • the way students access launched assessments and their experience while taking it
  • the "Instant Results" and analysis reports that teachers can access to review assessments
  "Taking Advantage of the `Technology-Enhanced` Assessments" (Powerpoint)
   View a video "walk-through" of the Powerpoint  (15-minute runtime | narrated by Gayle Hinton)
 
View Full Size Video

 
Session 5:  Student Responses to PBL Scenarios

In this session, you will learn about:

  • the Extended Response option within the PBL Scenarios
  • the ability for students to answer the Extended Responses online
  • the 4-point rubric that is used to grade student responses
  • the ability for teachers to view, grade, and analyze student responses online
  "Taking Advantage of the `Technology-Enhanced` Assessments" (Powerpoint)
   View a video "walk-through" of the Powerpoint  (15-minute runtime | narrated by Gayle Hinton)
 
View Full Size Video

PBL Customized Powerpoint