Rigorous PBL by Design

Michael McDowell, EdD was a public school educator for eighteen years serving in the roles of classroom teacher, academic and athletic coach, school principal, assistant superintendent of personnel and instruction, and superintendent.  During his tenure as a superintendent, his school district received state and national accolades including the National Blue Ribbon Award which recognized their work for student performance and mental health and well-being in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic by the U.S. Department of Education.Dr. McDowell serves on numerous boards, served as a college professor, and worked for non-profit organizations to enhance student learning around the world.  Over the course of his career, Dr. McDowell has authored bestselling books, created professional learning programs and workbooks, provided keynotes and workshops, and provided practical tools and resources for thousands of teachers and leaders on almost every continent around the world.  A prolific author and consultant, Dr. McDowell is recognized as one of the leading authorities on integrating innovative and impactful practices into schools. Offering keynotes and executive coaching to heads of school around the world, he partners with educational leaders to implement high leverage strategies that will enhance teaching and learning in classrooms, schools, and systems through his work with Hinge Education.

• Foreword by John HattieIntroductionChapter 1. Focusing on Confidence and Competence in LearningConfident and Competent Students at Work: Sir Francis Drake High SchoolConfidence in Learning AttributesCompetence in Learning Levels: Surface, Deep, and TransferPBL as a Vehicle to Build Confidence and Competence in LearningChapter 2. Designing PBL for Student Confidence and CompetenceMake PBL EffectiveAdvancing PBL by DesignChapter 3. Design Shift I: Clarity—Understanding Expectations of Learning UpfrontClear Expectations Motivate LearningWhere Am I Going in My Learning?Steps for Determining Clear Learning Intentions and Success Criteria in Project DesignChapter 4. Design Shift II: Challenge—Structuring and Sequencing Learning Through ProjectsDesigning for Challenge and InterventionStep 1 (Plan A): Align Student Activities and Teaching Actions According to Surface, Deep, and Transfer ExpectationsStep 2 (Plan B): Structure Inquiry to Identify Student Performance and Provide Support That Aligns With the Learning Needs of StudentsChapter 5. Design Shift III: Culture—Knowing and Acting on Impact CollectivelyDeveloping a Culture of ConfidenceChapter 6. Reflections on PBL PracticeWorking Together for ImpactRetooling PBL to Serve as a Vehicle for Confidence and CompetenceAfterword by Suzie BossAppendicesAppendix A. Project Design TemplateAppendix B. Sample ProjectsAppendix C. PBL Design Shift and Key Elements ChecklistAppendix D. Recommended Texts for PBL ImplementationGlossaryReferencesIndex

"An excellent tool for any educator, administrator, or professional development coach who wants to dive deep into designing an effective and rigorous PBL. This book provides excellent details for the reader and step by step instructions on designing as well as implementing a PBL to enhance student cognition."