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Enhancing Learning Through Project-Based Instruction: The REAL Unit Framework

This article discusses project-based instruction (PBI) and its implementation through project-enhanced units aimed at promoting comprehensive content learning and deeper conceptual understanding. The REAL unit framework (Realistic Explorations in Astronomical Learning) exemplifies how driving research questions guide student investigations related to the Earth-sun-moon system and lunar phases. Key features include benchmark lessons, innovative technologies, and assessment strategies like concept maps and rubrics to ensure student engagement and meaningful learning experiences while aligning with standards and scientific practices.

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Enhancing Learning Through Project-Based Instruction: The REAL Unit Framework

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  1. What is Project-Based Instruction? Jennifer Wilhelm University of Kentucky

  2. Project-enhanced Units Aproject-enhanced unit is designed to foster common content learning (via benchmark lessons) by all students in the class, and to help students gain a deeper conceptual understanding of a sub-set of the larger content unit (via group project research).

  3. Project-based Framework Features for a project classroom: • Driving Research Question (Krajcik, J. and Blumenfeld, P.,2006) • Sub-driving Research Questions • Benchmark Lessons and Innovative Technologies to scaffold understanding (Singer, J., Marx, R., and Krajcik, J., 2000) • Milestones (Polman, 2000)

  4. What is a Driving Question?

  5. Characteristics of driving questions • Feasible: Students can design and perform investigations to answer the questions. • Worthwhile: They contain rich science and/or mathematics content, relate to what scientists or mathematicians really do, and can be broken down into smaller questions. • Contextualized: They are pertinent to the world, nontrivial, and important. • Meaningful: They are interesting and exciting to learners. • Sustainable: They lead to the pursuit of detailed answers over time.

  6. PBI with the REALUnit(Realistic Explorations in Astronomical Learning) The unit and driving question should be guided by standards. • Students who demonstrate understanding can (Disciplinary Corse Ideas from NGSS): • MS-ESS1-1.Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases. • MS-ESS1-3.Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system. An example driving question: • Why does the Moon’s appearance always seem to change?

  7. Literary Review for REAL Unit • Research has shown students have difficulty understanding the cause of lunar phases (Abell, Martini, & George, 2001; Lightman & Sadler, 1993; Trundle, Atwood, & Christopher, 2002; Zeilik & Bisard, 2000). • Schoon (1992) - (1,200 students) 48.1% explained phases due to Earth’s shadow and 69.5% of college level students accepted this notion (p. 210). • Trumper (2001) study with future teachers found that 16% explained phases due to Earth’s shadow and of 29% believed phases were caused by the Sun’s shadow.

  8. Next Generation Science Standards Framework

  9. Comparing the Practices

  10. Comparing the Practices

  11. How do you ensure that students have the opportunity to learn specific content material in a project classroom?

  12. Benchmark Lessons & Project Work • Moon journaling (both nature and Stellarium) • Earth/Moon/Mars NASA scaling lesson • Moon Hoax Investigation (mini-project) • What can we learn by examining the Moon's surface and what affects a crater’s size? • How can I say where I am on the Earth? • 2 and 3-dimensional modeling of Earth/Moon/Sun geometry • Asynchronous Internet blogging with Australian students • Geometers’ Sketchpad benchmark lesson

  13. Components of the Project • Sub-driving Research Question (student-generated question) • Methods of Investigation and Data Collection • Analysis of Data • Data Representation • Graphs/Charts/ Models and/or Technology-generated Visuals • Results and Conclusions • Follow-up Question

  14. Assessments in Project-enhanced Classrooms • Concept Maps • Rubrics • Pre/post surveys • Journaling

  15. Project Rubric

  16. Orbiters

  17. Anglers

  18. Stargazers

  19. Craters Earth Impact Database - http://www.passc.net/EarthImpactDatabase/NorthAmerica.html

  20. Thank you! Jennifer.wilhelm@uky.edu REAL Curriculum Website http://www.uky.edu/~jwi229/access/REAL/

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