Hacking Project Based Learning: 10 Easy Steps to PBL and Inquiry in the Classroom (Hack Learning Series) - Softcover

Cooper, Ross; Murphy, Erin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0986104981 ISBN 13: 9780986104985

Publisher: Times 10 Publications, 2016

Synopsis

It's time to say Yes to PBL

Project Based Learning can be messy, complicated, and downright scary. When done right, though, PBL and Inquiry are challenging, inspiring and fun for students. Best of all, when project-based learning is done right, it actually makes the teacher's job easier.

Now, you can demystify project-based learning

As questions and mysteries around PBL and inquiry continue to swirl, experienced classroom teachers and school administrators Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have written a book that will empower those intimidated by PBL to cry, “I can do this!” while at the same time providing added value for those who are already familiar with the process. Hacking Project Based Learning demystifies what PBL is all about with 10 hacks that construct a simple path that educators and students can easily follow to achieve success.

Hacking Project Based Learning provides a simple blueprint for PBL that helps you:

• Establish a culture of inquiry and creativity in your classroom
• Teach the kind of collaboration skills that harness dissonance
• Turn High Impact Takeaways (HITs) into a project based plan
• Create Umbrella questions that drive the project
• Build a Progress Assessment Tool (PAT) that helps students inform and assess their learning
• Use formative assessment throughout the entire PBL experience
• Seamlessly integrate direct instruction to enhances the process, rather than interfere with it
• Practice the patience that inspires a productive struggle, which leads to better understanding
• Teach and embrace reflection during and at the end of the project
• Publish work the right way, so all stakeholders can see it

Experts rave about Hacking Project Based Learning

"HACKING PROJECT BASED LEARNING is a classroom essential. Its ten simple “hacks” will guide you through the process of setting up a learning environment in which students will thrive from start to finish."

     -Daniel H. Pink, New York Times Bestselling author of DRIVE

"Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have researched PBL from every angle and offer practical steps to make the PBL experience highly beneficial to students because they are practitioners who use it. This book is a very important “How-to” for every teacher and leader who is interested in PBL.

     -Peter DeWitt, author/consultant, Finding Common Ground blog (Education Week)

"The challenge for educators with project and inquiry based learning is finding the time and having the knowledge to implement effectively. Cooper and Murphy provide a much-needed resource that addresses both of these pain points in a concise, clear manner.

     -Eric Sheninger, Senior Fellow, International Center for Leadership in Education 

Are you ready for an amazing productive struggle in your classroom?

Start Hacking Project Based Learning today.

About this title

About the Author

Ross Cooper is the Supervisor of Instructional Practice K-12 in the Salisbury Township School District in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Previously, he was an elementary assistant principal for a year, and before that a fourth-grade teacher in the East Penn School District for six years. He is an Apple Distinguished Educator and a Google Certified Innovator. His passions are inquiry-based learning and quality professional development. He blogs about these topics at rosscoops31.com. He regularly speaks, presents, and conducts workshops related to his writings and professional experiences. When he is not working, he enjoys eating steak and pizza, exercising, reading books, playing on his computer, and provoking his three beautiful nephews. Please feel free to connect with him via email, RossCoops31@gmail.com, and Twitter, @RossCoops31.

Erin Murphy is the assistant principal of Eyer Middle School in the East Penn School District. As a certified literacy specialist, she coordinates the middle-level ELA department. Erin’s classroom experiences range from kindergarten through fifth grade. In college, Erin was a member of the Professional Development School at Penn State University; this full year collaboration between the university and State College Area School District focused on inquiry based learning, conceptual math instruction, and project based learning experiences. She has presented at numerous conferences on the east coast focused on Project Based Learning, Literacy, Technology, and Educational Leadership. Erin married her college sweetheart and has two beautiful daughters. Follow Erin on Twitter @MurphysMusings5 and check out her blog at psumurphette.com

Review

"HACKING PROJECT BASED LEARNING is a classroom essential. Its ten simple 'hacks' will guide you through the process of setting up a learning environment in which students will thrive from start to finish."-Daniel H. Pink, New York Times Bestselling Author of DRIVE and A Whole New Mind
"Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have researched PBL from every angle and offer practical steps to make the PBL experience highly beneficial to students because they are practitioners who use it. This book is a very important 'How-to' for every teacher and leader who is interested in PBL."-Peter DeWitt, Author/Consultant, Finding Common Ground blog (Education Week) 
"The challenge for educators with project and inquiry-based learning is finding the time and having the knowledge to implement effectively. Cooper and Murphy provide a much-needed resource that addresses both of these pain points in a concise, clear manner."-Eric Sheninger, Senior Fellow, International Center for Leadership in Education
"Unlike many education books written today, Hacking Project Based Learning provides practical steps to shift instructional practices while maintaining a laser focus on high levels of student learning. If you're a school leader working to create authentic learning opportunities for all of your students, you will find this book to be one of your best resources on your journey moving forward."-Thomas C. Murray, Director of Innovation, Future Ready Schools, Alliance for Excellent Education, Washington, DC
"Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have created an accessible guide for all educators on the meaningful implementation of project based learning within any classroom setting. The process, laid out in 10 easy to follow hacks, takes educators on a journey from the theory behind PBL to the actual planning and execution of PBL in a way that is best for kids."-Tony Sinanis, Educator, 2014 NYS Elementary Principal of the Year, Speaker, Co-author of Hacking Leadership
"Here's the good news: Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have created a project based learning guide that can get you started with PBL for the first time, push you further if you are a seasoned veteran, or make the case to your colleagues about authentic learning. The great news is that Hacking Project Based Learning is a fast-paced, incredibly practical, and immediately actionable book that will spark innovation in any K-12 classroom."-A.J. Juliani, Author of LAUNCH and Learning By Choice
"Hacking PBL is a must have for any administrators trying to help their teachers bring hands-on, minds-on learning to their classrooms. The process is clear, the problems are real, and the hacks are practical. In the end, the work will be transformational for classrooms. Anyone starting the process of project based learning in his or her space needs this book!"-Joe Sanfelippo, Superintendent, Speaker, Co-author of Hacking Leadership
"Ross and Erin created an easy to follow road map that will help any teacher at any level successfully integrate project based learning into his or her learning spaces. They break down the specifics of how in easy to follow steps, as well as explicitly walk teachers through the how of meaningful collaboration. If you're looking for a book on PBL, this is sure to be a go-to in your collection."-Starr Sackstein, High School English Teacher and Teacher Coach, Author of Hacking Assessment
"Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have done an exquisite job of creating a project based learning guide that any school or educator is sure to benefit from. Leveraging their experiences as practitioners, they provide the perfect blend of progressive ideas and research-based practices, in one easy to follow format."-Laura Fleming, Library Media Specialist, Author of Worlds of Making

Edition details

• Publisher: Times 10 Publications
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0986104981
• ISBN 13: 9780986104985
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 142