Dr. Karin Hess

Applying Cognitive Rigor to Project-Based Learning

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Tools listed below are excerpts from A Local Assessment Toolkit to Promote Deeper Learning (Corwin 2018) or Rigor by Design, Not Chance (ASCD 2022)

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1. Performance Task Development Planning Tool: Use this planning tool to collaboratively design PBLs or performance-based assessments.

2. S-T-A-R-S - Use this tool to develop prompts for performance -based assessments with opportunities for student input.

3. Rubric Development - Hess PLC Tool #11 - Use to collaboratively design or give feedback on rubrics.

4. Performance Task Validation - Hess PLC Tool #9A - Use to analyze and validate a project design or performance task.

5. KID TOOL: Collaborative Inquiry Planning Students use to analyze and plan how they will complete a complex task.

6. KID TOOL: PBL Activity Log - Use as an alternative to a teacher-established calendar; co-develop with students at first.

7. BEST Toolkit - Self-Direction Rubrics K-12 Students can use these rubrics to guide PBL goal setting and self-reflection activities.

8. BEST Toolkit - Collaboration Rubrics K-12 Rubrics can be used by individuals or groups to show evidence of learning /progress.

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PBL Resources, Authors, and Examples

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• PBL Works: Sample PBL Projects (K-12)

• PBL videos: Choose from a variety of short informative videos on PBL

• PBL ideas for Units on Social Justice: Article in Edutopia with suggested texts and possible products

• PBL Management Tool: Why I scrum (article in PBLWorks)

• April Smith - PBL Planning Guide: Writing Driving Questions

• John Spencer - Website and blog; PBL and distance learning

• Mike Kaechele - Website and blog; Integrating SEL with PBL

• Todd Stanley – Sample PBL projects and teaching strategies 

• Engineering Games & Projects - This was suggested to me by Lizabeth, a member of Miss Stacey Martin's STEM club. Thanks, Liz!

• Sample Essential Questions for NGSS - from Jay McTighe​​

 

Building Competency-Based Systems & CB Assessments

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Excerpts from Deeper Competency-Based Learning: Making Equitable, Student-Centered, Sustainable Shifts

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1. Competency-Based Systems - Overview of Major CBE Shifts 

2. Competency-Based Systems - Sample Holistic Proficiency Scale for school-based grading and reporting

3. Competency-based Systems - CBE Tool #3: Self-Evaluation Rubric for Competency Statements

4. Competency-Based Systems - CBE Tool#4: Developing Competencies Across Grades (NOTE: NH's Model Competencies used this tool during development)

5. Competency-Based Systems - CBE Tool#5: Analyzing a Competency (ELA example with development steps. Then use "I can..." statements to create a performance scale for each competency.)

6. Competency-based Systems - CBE Tool #6: Performance Scale Example (Example for developing instruction and assessments for rhetorical analysis across content areas) 

7.  Strategy Example: (Chapter 4 excerpt) Pacing strategies for personalizing on-line learning

8.  Strategy Example: (Chapter 3 excerpt) Rhetorical Analysis Options across Content Areas

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