Exploring Nevada through Project-Based Leaning includes 50 well-thought-out projects designed for grades 3-5. In assigning your students projects that dig into NevadaÕs geography, history, government, economy, current events, and famous people, you will deepen their appreciation and understanding of Nevada while simultaneously improving their analytical skills and ability to recognize patterns and big-picture themes. Project-based learning today is much different than the craft-heavy classroom activities popular in the past. Inquiry, planning, research, collaboration, and analysis are key components of project-based learning activities today. However, that doesnÕt mean creativity, individual expression, and fun are out. They definitely arenÕt! Each project is designed to help students gain important knowledge and skills that are derived from standards and key concepts at the heart of academic subject areas. Students are asked to analyze and solve problems, to gather and interpret data, to develop and evaluate solutions, to support their answers with evidence, to think critically in a sustained way, and to use their newfound knowledge to formulate new questions worthy of exploring. While some projects are more complex and take longer than others, they all are set up in the same structure. Each begins with the central project-driving questions, proceeds through research and supportive questions, has the student choose a presentation option, and ends with a broader-view inquiry. Rubrics for reflection and assessments are included, too. This consistent framework will make it easier for you assign projects and for your students to follow along and consistently meet expectations. Encourage your students to take charge of their projects as much as possible. As a teacher, you can act as a facilitator and guide. The projects are structured such that students can often work through the process on their own or through cooperation with their classmates.

Project-Based Learning for Gifted Students: A Step-by-Step Guide to PBL and Inquiry in the Classroom outlines how to implement PBL in the gifted classroom. This fully updated second edition: Guides teachers to create a project-based learning environment in their own classroom. Includes helpful examples and reproducible lessons that all teachers can use to get started. Focuses on student choice, teacher responsibility, and opportunities for differentiation. Provides a step-by-step process for linking projects with standards and finding the right structure. Helps build a practical and engaging classroom environment. Use this must-have guide to challenge students' thinking, promote rigor, and build engaging authentic, real-world, inquiry-based learning experiences.

This edited volume showcases work from the emerging field of design-based research (DBR) within social studies education and explores the unique challenges and opportunities that arise when applying the approach in classrooms. Usually associated with STEM fields, DBR’s unique ability to generate practical theories of learning and to engineer theory-driven improvements to practice holds meaningful potential for the social studies. Each chapter describes a different DBR study, exploring the affordances and dilemmas of the approach. Chapters cover such topics as iterative design, using and producing theory, collaborating with educators, and the ways that DBR attends to historical, political, and social context.

"Forgive yourself for not having the foresight to know what now seems so obvious in hindsight." -Judy Belmont How often have you caught yourself saying "I wish I knew that" or "If only they knew..."? We have all been there. We can always look back and wish that we could change something, but the key is to use that knowledge and make a difference now. We learn from reflecting on our own experiences and by connecting with other educators to learn from theirs. In Things I Wish [...] Knew, Rachelle Dené Poth has brought in fifty educators with different experiences and backgrounds in education to share something they wish they or others knew. Each vignette shares an eye-opening experience, a valuable lesson learned, advice for overcoming challenges, or simply offers some inspiration or words of wisdom. Throughout this book, you will learn from educators who hope to help others make a difference, to make some changes in their practice, and to avoid missing out on opportunities. The book explores things that each educator wishes they knew when they started teaching, something they wish that administrators knew, or things that they wish all students knew. I hope that this book will lead you to reflect on your own practice and inspire you to share your story too.

This book will help readers develop their leadership skills by drawing from a higher purpose to find passion to lead purposefully and creatively. Team leaders will learn how to identify a problem from a 360-degree perspective to meet the needs of the customer and how to select a diverse team that can work synergistically together to innovate. This process involves matching expertise to project and project to expertise. Successful leaders acquire a combination of knowledge and experiences help them make better decisions. Dr. Lamberg also provides strategies for growing as a leader and for making decisions so that project goals and team members’ expertise align to create optimal conditions for thinking and productivity.

Threshold Concepts in Problem-based Learning provides a critical discussion and guidance for educational researchers, teachers, innovators and policy makers wanting to explore the interrelationship of PBL and threshold concepts. Beginning with an introduction to both areas and offering an overview of the current issues, this volume delivers 11 innovative, research-based chapters from around the world. It outlines the major threshold concepts faced by those disciplines that have adopted PBL, and then examines the impact of threshold concepts on student learning. What is unique about this text is the way it examines PBL as a pedagogy in which students get stuck in the learning process and the thresholds they encounter as they learn to adapt.