EPISODE 3: Early PBL Bloopers, Lessons, and Advice with Veteran PBL Teachers

Welcome to this episode of The Project — the podcast that takes a deep-dive into the power, the potential, the pitfalls, and the possibilities of Project Based Learning to help you, your students, and your colleagues get the most out of PBL! In this episode, Laureen and Stanley will be speaking with three experienced teachers in the PBL space: Ellie Foust has been an educator for over 20 years and has created a STEAM interdisciplinary-based curriculum for seventh graders. Most recently, she has started a new role teaching high school AP environmental science and chemistry. Eric White currently provides professional development and coaching for school districts full-time. Before this, he was a PBL instructional coach and lead teacher of PBL at the secondary level. And last, but not least, Telannia Norfar is a mathematics teacher at a public high school in Oklahoma City, OK, who has been using Project Based Learning since she started teaching. She has been recognized as a Teacher of the Year among other accolades and is also the co-author of Project-Based Learning in the Math Classroom. Today, Ellie, Eric, and Telannia swap stories about some of the early challenges they had to overcome in their PBL journeys and lessons they’ve learned through mistakes that they’ve made. They also share the best advice they received early on in their PBL careers. If you’re just starting out on your own PBL journey, you won’t want to miss this conversation!   Key Takeaways: [:01] About the The Project podcast. [:30] About today’s episode and special guests. [1:38] Laureen and Stanley welcome their three guests to the podcast! [2:07] Telannia explains her ‘why’ behind PBL. [2:46] Eric shares his PBL ‘why.’ [3:51] Ellie shares her PBL ‘why.’ [4:48] Ellie shares a story about a challenge she had to overcome early on in her PBL journey. [9:11] Eric shares a PBL blooper from his early days as a teacher. [15:02] Stanley tells a quick blooper of his own. [15:17] Telannia shares a story of a PBL lesson she learned early on. [19:36] Telannia shares what she thinks it takes to become a PBL teacher. [21:22] Eric shares what he thinks it takes to become a PBL teacher. [22:28] Ellie shares what she thinks it takes to become a PBL teacher. [23:26] Ellie shares the best advice she received early on as a PBL educator. [24:32] Telannia shares the best advice she received when she was starting out as a PBL teacher. [25:58] Eric shares the best advice he received when he was just starting out with PBL.   Mentioned in This Episode: PBLWorks Stanley Richards, PBLWorks staff Laureen Adams, PBLWorks staff Ellie Foust, PBLWorks National Faculty Eric White, PBLWorks National Faculty Telannia Norfar, PBLWorks National Faculty Project-Based Learning in the Math Classroom, by Chris Fancher and Telannia Norfar   Twitter Quotes (for Social Media Use):   “With project-based learning, [you] truly reach every kid because you intentionally plan for every kid.” — Telannia Norfar   “I tell everyone: I have not arrived. I see the horizon all the time but I’m on the road. And the biggest thing is to realize that [PBL is] a road that you stay on and you get better at.” — Telannia Norfar   “Plan away. Because great projects usually don’t happen by chance; they usually happen by design.” — Eric White   “All students… deserve the type of education that project-based education provides.” — Ellie Foust   “[It’s important] to truly let your passion and love for teaching shine through in those projects that you’re creating… and [allow] yourself to learn and laugh through the entire process with your kids.” — Ellie Foust