Marshall Music PBL
About Me
I am a certified K-12 music teacher who has taught every grade level and every ensemble ranging from orchestra to band to advanced choir. I am currently in my 3rd year of teaching middle school general music and chorus. I work on improving my skills through writing curriculum and participating in the assessment team for the district.
My Topic and Purpose
The intent of this course is to show educators the positive results of using project-based learning in the music classroom as well as other classes, as well as walk educators through the process of designing and using authentic projects in the classroom.
Questions that will be covered:
- What is project-based learning?
- What are the benefits of using project-based learning?
- What does project-based learning look like in the music classroom?
- How can educators use project-based learning to create authentic, hands-on engagement and assessment?
Learning Outcomes
Participants will:
- Identify project-based learning (Verbal and Intellectual)
- Identify positive outcomes of project-based learning (Verbal and Intellectual)
- Describe how project-based learning can positively impact the (music) classroom (Verbal and Intellectual)
- Describe the process of creating and assessing project-based learning (Verbal and Intellectual)
- Create authentic projects for the (music) classroom (Intellectual and Cognitive)
- Choose to use projects in their classroom. (Attitude)
Needs Assessment
Instructional Problem
In today's society collaboration and authentic learning are highly praised. Many teachers struggle with finding ways to incorporate authentic learning in their classroom. Many teachers also struggle finding ways to promote effective collaboration between students. "At its core, project-based learning is based on the idea that real-life problems capture student interest, provoke critical thinking, and develop skills as they engage in and complete complex undertakings that typically result in a realistic product, event, or presentation to an audience"(Tobias, Campbell, & Greco, 2015). In order for teachers to incorporate successful project based learning in the classroom they need to truly understand what it is and do iterative work on creating authentic projects.
Since it is a teachers' goal to promote transfer outside their classroom, projects demonstrate how information learned in a classroom setting can then be transferred into real-life settings and applications. Project based learning is a type of learning that uses active questioning, inquiry, and peer learning to create an environment where everyone has a voice and teachers and students can collaborate together to find solutions to authentic problems. (Boss & Larmer,2018) In my experience project based learning improves engagement, promotes problem solving strategies, promotes collaboration, and provides real life skills to the learners.
What is to be learned
Educators will learn about the benefits of project based learning, and be guided through successfully incorporating project based learning into their classrooms. Educators will use what they know about their students and student interests to create authentic projects.
The learners
Learners can include anyone in the educational field, but more specifically music teachers. Learners should be looking to create more hands-on, authentic, project-based assessments. Instruction and activities will be focused on guiding teachers into creating projects that can be brought into a classroom.
Instructional Context
The instruction will take place online so the learner must have access to a computer and the internet in order for learning to take place. The course will provide readings, videos, and pictures, and lectures to help provide the information while also using skilled questioning and check and connects to promote learning.
Exploring the problem and solution
Participants will explore the benefits of project based learning in the classroom. Through information, activities, and expert guidance participants will be able to design authentic projects for their classrooms.
Goals
The main goal of this mini-course is to give educators the skills to incorporate project-based learning into their classroom. By the end of this course learners should have designed at least one authentic project to implement in their classrooms complete with scoring guides and rubrics to assess the students effectively.
Performance-Based Objectives
- Given specific reading articles and examples, the participant will describe project-based learning in their own words.
- Given a rubric, the participant will plan and outline an authentic project for their classroom.
- Given the knowledge gained from the mini-course, the participant will implement and facilitate an authentic project for their classroom.
Task Analysis
- Unit 1
What is project-based learning?
- The participant will have a desire to learn more about project-based learning (Pre-requisite)
- The participant will identify project-based learning
- The participant will define project-based learning in their own words
- The participant will create goals for the mini-course
- Unit 2
What are the benefits of using project-based learning?
- The participant will list the benefits of project-based learning
- The participant will understand the benefits of project-based learning through videos and reading
- The participant will reflect on why they want to include project-based learning in their classroom
- Unit 3
What does project-based learning look like in the music classroom?
- The participant will compare and contrast examples of authentic projects in the music classroom
- The participant will understand the benefits of project-based learning in the music classroom
- Unit 4
How can educators use project-based learning to create authentic, hands-on engagement and assessment?
- The participant will identify units in which they would like to create projects for
- The participant will create a project for at least one unit through identified guidelines
- The participant will reflect on the entire process
Curriculum Map
References and Resources
Boss, S., & Larmer, J. (2018). Project based teaching: how to create rigorous and engaging learning experiences. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Tobias, E. S., Campbell, M. R., & Greco, P. (2015). Bringing Curriculum to Life. Music Educators Journal, 102(2), 39–47. doi: 10.1177/0027432115607602
