Scene+Five

 ** Scene 5 **

 **In the conference room of LBDJ 21st Century School Carrie (Instructional Technology Facilitator), Stan (Principal), Sara (Instructional Technology Director) are meeting to discuss how to proceed with the Project Based Learning Initiative. They all know that it is going to take more than just providing a training to get teachers to buy in.**

Stan: Thinks- I hope this meeting does not take very long. I have to be in the hall for class change. We had a fight yesterday and I don’t need that today! Why do I have to be involved anyway? Isn’t this the Instructional Technology Departments baby now? I agreed to do the pilot. Isn’t that enough? “ I am glad everyone could make it this morning. We are here to wrap up a couple of details right? Please excuse me if I have to slip out a little early.”

Sara: “Well Stan, actually we are here to lay out the plan we have to ensure that the PBL pilot is a success. It is critical that we get buy-in from the majority of your faculty in order to promote PBL in the other schools within the county. Sara is going to share the plan that the PBL committee has come up with.”

Stan: A little irritated... thinking -Wonder why wasn’t I on that committee? “ Excuse me, but why was I not on the committee? Since this involves my school wouldn't you want my input?

Carrie : Thinking- Oh goodness! How do I tell him that I sent out several e-mails and he never responded? “ Well, Mr. Manard your were invited to be on the committee several times via e-mail. I also called you one afternoon but you said you had to be at a soccer game. I know that you are very busy and we will be glad to listen to any of your recommendations as we go through the plan.”

Stan: (Feeling a little embarrassed) “Oh yes, I think I do remember receiving those e-mails. I get so many and sometimes I overlook things. The truth is, I am just not that tech savvy. I long for the days of real paper and phone calls.”

Carrie:(Speaking very sympathetically) “Mr. Manard, please allow me to help you with your technology skills. There are several things I could teach you about your e-mail. We can set up group contacts, a filter, and tags. It would be wonderful for the faculty to know that you are willing to be a life-long learner. I think you will even encourage some of your major resistors!

Stan: “ Thanks Carrie. I don’t even know what a filter is unless you are talking coffee!I think I will give it the old college try. (Laughs) You know, at first I thought this initiative was just something that would be good for our school. Now, I see that it can help me improve my administrative skills as well. I guess the faculty does need to see that I am invested in this too. Okay, you have me where you want me, so where do we begin?  Sara: “One place we need to begin is the definition of Project Based Learning. According to the [|__Buck Institute for Education__] :

 In Project Based Learning (PBL), students go through an extended process of inquiry in response to a complex question, problem, or challenge. While allowing for some degree of student "voice and choice," rigorous projects are carefully planned, managed, and assessed to help students learn key academic content, practice 21st Century Skills (such as collaboration, communication & critical thinking), and create high-quality, authentic products & presentations.  We have presented the recommendations from the committee in the table that you have in front of you. We understand that some of your teachers may already be incorporating Project Based Learning and don’t even know it. Others are willing to listen and will be willing to try. A few will be very resistant to this type of learning because it may involve technology skills that they do not possess or even want. Our committee has proposed the following actions that keeps all of these teachers in mind. Following, there is a table of resources that will be a great place for teachers to learn more about the Project Based Learning process and implementation.” The three begin to go over the proposed actions ( The tables are on the Resources Page)

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 * Clipart - Microsoft Clipart - **