PBL Professional Learning Pathways

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Fairfield County Educational Service Center
December 17, 2019  |  8:30am-3:00pm
[register here]
Fee: $29 per registrant of a Fairfield County member district
         $99 per registrant for all other registrations outside Fairfield County 
Come ready to immerse yourself into a PBL experience just as a student. Participants engage as learners in a compressed project that models the key features of the PBL process. The day mirrors the flow of a larger project. This learning experience creates unique insights into the student learning experience for teachers to consider as they design and implement PBL in their classroom. This is appropriate for any educator, new or experienced with PBL.
Fee: $299 per registrant of a Fairfield County member district
         $499 per registrant for all other registrations outside Fairfield County

Design a high-quality project (integrated with SEL competencies) in this multi-day foundational workshop influenced by the Buck Institute for Education/PBLWorks Gold Standard Design Elements. The workshop models the project process and is a balanced blend of direct instruction, video analysis, hands-on work, resource sharing, and peer collaboration. Participants have substantial time to plan their own project and receive formative feedback from peers and the facilitator.  Participants will be given and utilize one of these PBLWorks books: PBL in the Elementary Grades (K-5) or the PBL Starter Kit (6-12).
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Fairfield County ESC member districts may purchase one hour of Ashland University graduate credit at the discounted rate of $195. 
[click here to register for graduate credit] (You save $54!)
Non-member districts may purchase one hour of Ashland University graduate credit at the standard rate of $249.
[click here to register for graduate credit]
​Dayton Regional STEM School
February 19, 20 & 21, 2020  |  8:30am-3:00pm  
[register here]
Fee​​: $199 per attendee, per full-day workshop. Lunch included.
In this immersive full-day workshop, spend your day with teachers and administrators who “live and breathe” PBL and can guide you through specific practices related to your content area or teaching practice. During our time together, we will dive deeply into planning and tips for managing rigorous PBL while addressing your questions and concerns. Experience with or a commitment to PBL instruction, in addition to previous PBL training, is recommended for these workshops. 
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If you attend two full days at any of the three school sites, an optional one semester hour of Ashland University graduate credit is available for an additional fee. Fairfield County ESC member districts receive one hour of  graduate credit for a discounted fee of $195.  Non-member districts may purchase one hour of credit at the standard rate of $249.

PBL + Math
November 21, 2019  |  9:00am-3:00pm   [register here]
Looking for ways to make your math projects authentic and more student-centered? Join a middle school and a high school math teacher at the Dayton Regional STEM School to explore this question and to examine the role of inquiry-based instruction and growth mindset to support project-based learning in your classroom. You will walk away from this workshop with online resources and some strategies you can use with your students, as well as potential ideas for future, authentic PBL units. 

Assessment in the PBL Classroom
March 19, 2020  |  9:00am-3:00pm   [register here]
The word “assessment” often conjures images of multiple choice questions and desks in rows. So what does assessment look like in a PBL classroom? Join teachers at the Dayton Regional STEM School to examine how to design and manage meaningful assessments throughout a PBL unit. Bring a PBL unit you are currently designing or one that you want to revise so that you can leave this workshop with practical assessment ideas ready to implement during your project. 

Science & PBL
April 16, 2020  |  9:00am-3:00pm   [register here]


Deep Dive: Critique in the Classroom 
Dates to be determined 
How do I develop a critique practice in my classroom to help my students create high quality work? Answer this driving question at this Deep Dive workshop! During our time together, you will participate in several styles of critique, observe students giving feedback each other's work, learn our "6 Hats" critique protocol, hear tips and tricks from teachers and students who use critique regularly, receive sample handouts used by DRSS teachers to organize critique in their classrooms, and organize and receive feedback on your own plans for using critique in your classroom. You will leave with specific terminology, goals, and rules for introducing and implementing high-quality critique in your classroom. 
​Location: 
Dayton Regional STEM School [Google Maps]
1724 Woodman Dr, Kettering, OH 45420
Questions?  Please call DRSS PBL Coach Jenn Reid at 937.256.3777
December 20, 2019-January 13, 2020  [register here]
February 14-March 16, 2020  [register here]
April 10-May 11, 2020  [register here]
June 5-July 6, 2020  [register here]
​Fee: $99.00 per registrant, per book study. 
Fee is waived for Amanda Clearcreek, Berne Union, Bloom-Carroll,  and Walnut Township.

Whether you are new to Project Based Learning (PBL) or a seasoned PBL practitioner, this book highlights PBLWorks' seven Gold Standard Teaching Practices that support a PBL student-centered learning environment. The book is full of practical tips from practicing PBL teachers that are easy to start implementing immediately.  It also features accompanying videos that show some of the featured PBL teachers in-action modeling the teaching practices with students in their classrooms. 
This 15-hour online book study is self-paced for users to complete at their convenience during the four-week time period, and meets the 15 clock-hour gifted HQPD requirement.  Participants must purchase their own copy of Project Based Teaching.

Fairfield County ESC member districts may purchase one hour of Ashland University graduate credit at the discounted rate of $195.  [click here to register for graduate credit] (You save $54!)
Non-member districts may purchase one hour of graduate credit at the standard rate of $249.
[click here t0 register for graduate credit]
This book study meets the 15 clock-hour gifted HQPD requirement.
 January 13-February 21, 2020  [register here]
Fee: $99.00 per registrant, per book study.  
PBL in the Math Classroom explains how to keep inquiry at the heart of mathematics teaching and helps teachers build students' abilities to be true mathematicians. It describes how PBL and inquiry work together in a math classroom and includes structures, processes and strategies for creating those experiences in your own classroom. The book also includes sample projects to implement or to inspire you to create your own. It is a 15-hour online book study, facilitated by a current PBL coach and experienced PBL math teacher, that is self-paced for users to complete at their convenience during the four-week time period. ​Participants must purchase their own copy of PBL in the Math Classroom.

​Fairfield County ESC member districts may purchase one hour of Ashland University graduate credit at the discounted rate of $195.  [click here to register for graduate credit] (You save $54!)
Non-member districts may purchase one hour of graduate credit at the standard rate of $249.
[click here t0 register for graduate credit]
Fee: $99.00 per registrant, per book study (waived for Fairfield County Gifted Consortium districts)
November 8-December 9, 2019  ​[register here]
December 20, 2019-January 13, 2020  [register here]
February 14-March 16, 2020  [register here]
April 10-May 11, 2020  [register here]
June 5-July 6, 2020  [register here] 

Just Ask Us: Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement by PBLWorks National Faculty, Heather Wolpert-Gawron is an outstanding resource for teachers to increase student engagement. Each chapter includes practical instructional tips and extensive tips from students that support researched-based best practices in student engagement. Classroom videos of student engagement strategies and photos of student work illustrate how students can effectively work together and use more visually stimulated methods to connect their learning to real world applications.   This 15-hour online book study is self-paced for users to complete at their convenience during the four-week time period, is fully aligned to Ohio's Gifted Competencies and meets the 15 clock-hour gifted HQPD requirement.  Participants must purchase their own copy of Just Ask Us.  Click here to order your book.  

​Fairfield County ESC member districts may purchase one hour of Ashland University graduate credit at the discounted rate of $195.  [click here to register for graduate credit] (You save $54!)
Non-member districts may purchase one hour of graduate credit at the standard rate of $249.
[click here t0 register for graduate credit]
This book study meets the 15 clock-hour gifted HQPD requirement.
Fee: $99.00 per attendee, per school visit. Meal Included.
Seeing is believing.  What does PBL look like in action? Whether you are new or seasoned to PBL, visiting schools that are fully immersed in PBL provides incredible insight to your practice. Join us at Yellow Springs School District, the Dayton Regional STEM School, or Olentangy Local's Shanahan Middle School, to see PBL in action.  Spend your day visiting classrooms where PBL is happening, seeing examples of successful PBL projects across content areas in grades 6-12, and engage with teachers, students and administrators. Feedback suggests that this time together will inspire you to use Project Based Learning in your classroom or school.
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Fairfield County ESC member district participants who attend two full days at any of the three school sites may purchase an optional one semester hour of Ashland University graduate credit for an additional $195.00. (You save $54!)
[click here to register for graduate credit]
Non-member district participants who attend two full days at any of the three school sites may purchase an optional one semester hour of Ashland University graduate credit for an additional $249.00.  
[click here to register for graduate credit]
Click here to see a showcase of some PBL projects from the Dayton Regional STEM School.
Fee: $99.00 per attendee, per school visit. Meal is included.
December 12, 2019  |  1:00-7:00pm - Exhibition Night [register here]
March 3, 2020 |  9:00am-3:00pm  [register here]
May 5, 2020  |  9:00am-3:00pm  [register here]
May 15, 2020  |  9:00am-3:00pm - STEMmersion  [register here]
Location: 
Dayton Regional STEM School [Google Maps]
1724 Woodman Dr, Kettering, OH 45420
Questions?  Please call DRSS PBL Coach Jenn Reid at 937.256.3777
​Fee: $99.00 per attendee, per school visit.
Meal is included.
Tuning Protocol & School Visit
February 12, 2020  |  7:45am-3:00pm [register here]
March 11, 2020  | 7:45am-3:00pm  [register here]
April 22, 2020  |  7:45am-3:00pm  [register here]

Exhibition Days
December 4, 2019  |   ES - 9am-2:30pm  [register here]
May 6, 2020  |   ES - 9am-2:30pm  [register here]
May 13, 2020  |   MS/HS - 9am-2:30pm  [register here]
All the below visits entail shadowing a fully integrated middle school PBL team. Jaimie Thomas: Lead PBL teacher, Science; Robert Cline: Social Studies; Kirstie DeWitt: Math; Brooke Erdy-Hunter: Intervention Specialist, and Sarah Zettler: English.
‘Tangy 2025’ Project Launch Day
​February 13, 2020  |  8:30am-3:00pm  [Register Here]
Fee: $99.00 per attendee, per school visit. Lunch is provided. 
This fully integrated project challenges students to design a 21st century school of their dreams.  Visitors will observe the entry event as students participate in a project springboard mimicking the research and challenge of our most complex and subject-integrated project to date.  Bring your PBL questions for the teachers' team planning where you will hear about project roll out and get insight into PBL project planning stages, grouping strategies, and site visits.  ​
‘Tangy 2025' Workshop  (limit 10 teachers)
March 3, 2020  | 8:30am-3:00pm  ​[Register Here]
​Fee: $99.00 per attendee, per school visit. Lunch is provided.
Get immersed in our project workshop and see how students collaborate to build a 21st Century school of their dreams.  Our team schedule for the day features a flexed core in the morning and project-workshop in the afternoon. Visiting architects are a highlight of this session as they provide authentic feedback to student groups during this "messy middle" part of the project path. Bring your PBL questions for the middle of the day when you participate in the integrated content teacher team's planning session. ​
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Project Based Learning (PBL) is an instructional strategy in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to a complex question, problem, or challenge. The Fairfield County Educational Service Center’s PBLMatters program works in conjunction with PBLWorks to provide comprehensive, high-quality PBL learning opportunities. PBLMatters was established in 2019 to provide fully-tiered support for teachers and organizations as they progress through the PBL process.
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The PBLWorks Ohio Institute, hosted by the Fairfield County ESC and PBLWorks, is the Midwest's premier conference for Project Based Learning. Each year, we bring together dedicated K-12 teachers, instructional coaches, and school and district leaders who want to connect with each other and learn more about PBL. It's not like other conferences that have a variety of short sessions by many different presenters—it's an institute, where participants go through a continuous multi-day experience. We believe PBL transforms students - and the PBLWorks Ohio Institute transforms educators!