Photo Credit: Canva
“This is a project that benefited from online space and from people being able to curate and slow down the conversation from a gut response through the lens of the computer screen.”
Welcome to the PBL Playbook, brought to you by Magnify Learning – where we put teachers back in their sweet spot. Make sure you follow us on Twitter: @magnifylearning, @askgiebs, @MissB103, #PBLPlaybook.
Josh and Andrea continue the PBL Project Blitz series where once a month, they highlight a PBL project by veterans in the PBL classroom.
In the this episode of the PBL Project Blitz series, our hosts are joined by John Brewer (@mrbrewerenglish) from the Academy @ Shawnee (@ShawneeAcademy) in Louisville, KY to discuss his project called “A Dream (Still) Deferred”. This project goes deep to tackle some moral realities and problems that exist in our world today. In this three-part project, students analyzed the idea of humanizing language to evaluate and address some of the polarities that exist between people and groups. As John describes, this project took a life of its own as the real-world application and demand for the end product became clear as his students tackled tough, real-world issues through literature and first-hand accounts.
Stay tuned for more awesome projects as the PBL Project Blitz series continues every month!
Show Notes
*PBL PROJECT BLITZ EPisode 41 FULL SHOW NOTES
Resources & Links Related to this Episode
School: Academy @ Shawnee-Louisville, KY (@Shawnee Academy)
PBL UNIT OVERVIEW:
PBL Unit Name: The Two Americas: Using Language to Humanize or Polarize
Grade: 11th Grade English
Summary: This is a three unit project with the goal of exploring the power of language to humanize or polarize and the history of systemic racism in Louisville KY. Part 1: A Dream (Still) Deferred | Part 2: Redlining in Louisville | Part 3: Taking on ‘The Wall Between‘ Us-Humanizing Language
Standards & Skills: English-use of language, literature-study of A Dream Deferred
Entry Event: Baldwin v. Buckley Debate
Driving Question: How can we as citizens use humanizing language to depolarize political discourse?
Community Partners: University of Louisville Professors, Jefferson County Public Schools Equity Department
Student End Product: Audio recordings where students discuss moral problems and cultivate an understanding of how to utilize humanizing language in their discussion. The future goal is to share these recordings publicly.
