Unit+Development

__ Unit Development __

When creating a cross curricular project in a collaborative setting groups of educators should consider the following:
Boss S. & Krauss J. (2007) Reinventing Project Based Learning. //International Society for Technology in Education.//
 * 1) What important and enduring concepts are fundamental to each subject you teach? Try to list 2 or 3 big concepts for each subject.
 * 2) Why do these concepts matter? Why are they important?
 * 3) Outside school, who cares about these topics? What is their relevance in different people's lives and in different parts of the world?
 * 4) Select 1 or 2 of the most promising of these topics and think a bout real life contexts to answer the following: What are the interdisciplinary connections? What other subjects might be incorporated?
 * 5) As you begin to imagine working with these topics, how might you push past rote learning into analysis, evaluation, and creation?
 * 6) Imagine authentic ways students might engage in the project and the ways 21st century skills might be addressed. ie Collaboration, Digital Tools, Information Literacy etc.
 * 7) What aspects of these topics will interest your students?

**Project Design Template 1** **Project Design Template 2** **Project Design Template 3** **Project Design Template 4** **Project Design Template 5** **Project Design Template 6** **Project Design Template 7** **Project Design Template 8** **Project Design Template 9** **Project Design Template 10

**//What kinds of problems/topics would have curricular relevance to the subjects at the table?//**

 * Identify the content standards (curriculum) that students will learn in this project.
 * Identify key skills students will learn in this project. (List only those skills you plan to assess)

Craft the Driving Question
State the essential question or problem statement for the project. The statement should encompass all project content and outcomes, and provide a central focus for student inquiry. A good driving question is open ended, requires research and exploration...the answer can not be "Googled"

Step 1: Define the products for the project. What will you assess?

 * Early
 * During
 * After

Step 2: State the criteria for exemplary performance for each product:
Product 1: Criteria: Product 2: Criteria etc. //Do the products and criteria align with the standards and outcomes for the project?//

Map the Project

 * What do students need to know and be able to do to complete the tasks successfully? How and when will they learn the necessary knowledge and skills? Look at one major product for the project and analyze the tasks necessary to produce a high-quality product.
 * //Do the products and tasks give all students the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned?//
 * List the key dates and milestones for the project.
 * //What challenges or problems might arise in this project?//
 * This is where the day to day details of instruction, research, collaboration, and production are constructed

Manage the Process

 * List preparations necessary to address needs for differentiated instruction for ESL students, special needs students, or students with diverse learning styles.
 * How will you and your students reflect on and evaluate the project?
 * //What do you expect to learn from this project?//