planning structured activities - project-based learning, service learning, and experiential learning

Introduction to the Structured Activities Approach

Public Health Management CorporationPhiladelphia, PA

Icebreaker

Which method do you think is used?

Project-Based Learning

Service Learning

Experiential Learning

Icebreaker Story #1A 4th grade group of students are preparing to send care packages to a local nursing home and senior community center. The students are answering the question, “How can we help our community?” Early in the project, youth discussed what they thought this question means and ways to answer it. They decided to create care packages because of recent news reports. Since then, they have interviewed elderly family members as to identify useful items, and they have done some internet searches to find what common supplies elderly individuals often need. They will deliver the care packages and give hand-written letters to those at the nursing home.

Icebreaker Story #2In Ms. K’s 10th grade group– “Young Entrepreneurs”, many of the youth will turn 16 soon, and they are interested finding part time employment. They worked together to create three objectives for a project: 1) Successfully complete sample job applications, 2) obtain letters of reference for potential employers, 3) and conduct practice interviews. To make the process more authentic, Ms. K has created jobs specific to the group – CEO, CFO, CMO, COO, etc. The youth will practice their interviewing skills when applying for one of the 10 available roles.

Icebreaker Story #3Mr. J’s 7th grade group, “The Art Stars,” are completing a neighborhood beautification project. The youth who walk to this program noticed increased graffiti and litter on the block. The group decided to paint the walls of some homes and businesses in the area, and they would also create a mural on a large, blank wall across from the program. They also want to get the street cleaned by the City; provide large, permanent trash cans, and plant trees in empty planters across the street from the school. Currently, they are writing a petition to the sanitation department for the street cleaning and trash cans. They are also going to meet with members of the Parks and Recreation Office to get trees planted.

Structured Activities = “Projects”

Structured Activities Approach

Project-basedLearning

ExperientialLearning

ServiceLearning

Objectives

• Identify common project elements • Describe the “Structured Activities

Approach” and each methodologies • Identify the benefits of the Structured

Activities Approach• Review Requirements for implementing

projects in OST programs

DHS Outcomes• Increased engagement in School • Increased engagement in Learning• Improved relationships• Improved life skills• Aspires to academic excellence• Prepared for Post-Secondary

Opportunities

Common Elements

Learning over time

Role of Students

Role of Staff Members

What skills do projects help youth develop?

21st Century Skills

21st Century Skills

• Creativity• Work Ethic • Persistence• Civic Mindedness• Engagement in

Learning

• Communication• Collaboration• Critical Thinking• Problem Solving• Leadership• Adaptability

New Learning

Hands-on, Engaging Learning

• Sequenced activities over time (4-10 weeks)• Rooted in students’ interests • Driven by a clear question OR learning objective,

resulting in a culminating product/event • Staff facilitate, rather than “teach”• Project activities are hands-on, fun and engaging• Promote 21st Century Skills, DHS Outcomes

Structured Activities: Common Elements

Structured Activities aka “Projects”




ServiceLearning

Approach 1: What is PBL?

An inquiry-based approach to learning

Driving Question Activities Culminating

Product

Driving QuestionsDriving Question is…

Open-ended Provocative


AUTHENTIC Relevant


Requires core knowledge to answer Requires 21st Century Skills (such as

Communication or Collaboration)

Sample DQs

Can science be used to solve crimes?

Would I trust my guilt or innocence to science?

Sample DQs

????

What are the elements of a song and what makes a song popular?

Culminating Events• Sets the stage for youth “answers” to the

driving question.

• Clearly connects to the driving question

• Open-ended

Culminating Events• Television Broadcast• Community Service Event• Business• Website/Social Media Channel• Play or Performance• Arts Café• Curated Museum• Video Message/Commercial• SO MANY MORE

Culminating Events

???

???

???

Would I trust my guilt or

innocenceto science?

Driving QuestionCulminating

Product/Event

Culminating EventsMock Trial

Law and Order Episode

Crime Scene Investigation

Would I trust my guilt or innocenceto science?

Activities


Mock Trial

Law and Order episode


Backwards Planning


Mock Trial

Law and Order episode


Practice Closing Arguments

Reserve Auditorium

Purchase CSI Kit Visit Temple

CSI Lab

Recreate Crime Scene

WatchDocumentary

BREAK5 Minutes





ServiceLearning

Approach 2: What is Service Learning (SL)?

A strategy that integrates meaningful service(s) that aim to resolve a problem with instruction and reflection to enrich

youths understanding of an issue or situation, teach civic responsibility, and

strengthen communities.

The Service Learning Process

Investigation

Planning and Preparation

ActionReflection

Demonstration of Results and Celebration

Service Learning Projects, not Community Service activity

Investigation


ActionReflection



Investigation

• Select issue to address• Research issue, get community input• Complete activities (service) to explore

issue and identify possible solutions

Service Learning - Planning

Investigation


AtionReflection


• Choose solution(s) to address issue

• Plan action steps• Contact partners,

gather resources


Investigation


ActionReflection


• Once planned by the youth and staff, conduct service activities.

• Prepare youth with questions to consider


Investigation


ActionReflection


Service Learning Example

M.Y.T.O.W.N. Video

Types of Community Service

Direct: Students’ service directly impacts individuals

Indirect: Working broadly, at the community level

Research: Gathering and presenting information

Advocacy: Creating awareness and educating

Service Learning - Discussion

Direct: Students’ service directly impacts individualsIndirect: Working broadly, at the community levelResearch: Gathering and presenting informationAdvocacy: Creating awareness and educating

What kind of service was the “Ice Bucket Challenge?”

Is it an act of Community Service or Service Learning?





ServiceLearning

Approach 3: What is Experiential Learning (EL)?

The process of making meaningfrom direct, hands-on experience.

Approach 3: What is Experiential Learning (EL)?

• Objectives focused• Task-oriented• Emphasis on demonstration, reflection

and critical thinking

Kolb’s Model of Experiential LearningConcrete

Experience (Doing It)

Reflective Observation

(Thinking About It)

Abstract Conceptualization

(Making Sense of It)

Active Experimentation (Applying It to

New Situations)

Kolb’s Model of Experiential Learning

Concrete Experience (Doing It)


(Thinking About It)



Active Experimentation

(Applying It to New Situations)

• Staff provide the experience (ex. Set up field trip, internship, performance)

• Experience should be hands-on, active• Less reliance on staff over time




(Thinking About It)



Active Experimentation

(Applying It to New Situations)

• Did you notice…?• Why did that happen?• Does this happen in the

world?• How can you use that?• What will you

remember about this?




(Thinking About It)



Active Experimentation (Applying It to

New Situations)

Experiential Learning Examples

• Working on an farm/garden (not just visiting)• School mural• Edible Car project• Creating a proposal to improve school lunches• ‘Zine/blog/newspaper/comic book publishing• Making a Cookbook or “Top Chef” Event

Experiential Learning Examples

Edible Car Project

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/engineering-design-process-stem-lesson





ServiceLearning

• Projects last 4-10 weeks• Year-round (max. 2 weeks between projects)• 3-4 hours per week during school year• 6-8 hours per week during the summer• Documentation: Planning form, Task List, Debriefing Form, Rubric

Scope of Work Requirements

PBL DocumentationHow to use the forms:

1. Planning Form• Completed prior to implementation• Working document, will be revised during

PBL DocumentationHow to use the forms:

2. Task List: youth fill out early in project. • Use to think through the steps of

completing a project.• May be done as a Group Task List(s)

PBL Documentation 3. Debriefing: on the last day of the project.

• Best Practice: Start with a discussion• Should be written or typed

Rubrics: Conduct after the project is complete.• Staff complete one for each youth• Entered into PCAPS for each youth

Competency Emerging Proficient Mastery Break-through

Collaboration Team member did not work

hard

Team member had good ideas

and worked

Team member

was a leader

Classmates were inspired by the team

member

PBL Documentation

Remember: project time is not a separate activity on the schedule...

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

3:00-3:30 Snack Snack Snack Snack Snack

3:30-4:15 Homework Homework Homework Homework Free Play

4:15-5:15 Project Time Chess Project Time Project Time Free Play

5:15-6:00 Gym Computer Lab

Gym Arts and Crafts

Gym

Mr. T’s 4th Grade Group

…projects are integrated into the existing schedule



3:30-4:15 Book Club Mad Scientists

Book Club Mad Scientists

Gardening or Design Shop

4:15-5:15 Choice: Martial Arts

or Dance

Express Yourself

Choice: Martial Arts

or Dance

Choice: Chess,

Scrabble or Debate

Express Yourself

5:15-6:00 Homework Homework Homework Homework Fit For Life


Service Learning: Save Our Water



3:30-4:15 Literary Geniuses

Mad Scientists

Literary Geniuses

Mad Scientists



or Dance

Express Yourself


or Dance

Choice: Chess,

Scrabble or Debate

Express Yourself



Project-Based Learning: How can we write a hit song?



3:30-4:15 Literary Geniuses

Mad Scientists

Literary Geniuses

Mad Scientists



or Dance

Express YourselfAV Club


or Dance

Choice: Chess,

Scrabble or Debate

Express YourselfAV Club


Ms. K’s 5th Grade Group

Objectives

• Identify common project elements • Describe the “Structured Activities

Approach” and each methodologies • Identify the benefits of the Structured

Activities Approach• Review Requirements for implementing

projects in OST programs

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planning structured activities - project-based learning, service learning, and experiential learning

Education

question activities

project activities

engaging learning

learning objective

new learning

driving question openended

sequenced activities

clear question