How do I utilize an Instructional Coach in my district to help me with PBL?

 

As a PBLer, you have found a way to become the guide more than the dispenser of knowledge, but have you found a coach? Check out the last video on the importance of having and finding a coach. What if you already have an instructional coach in your school or district. How can an instructional coach help you on your PBL journey?

If you have an instructional coach who is well versed in Project Based Learning, then celebrate! You have an in-house partner to help you plan, strategize and give feedback. Reach out right away. Don’t wait until you ‘have it all figured out’. A coach can you get there way quicker if you can be transparent and open to learning.

If you have an instructional coach in your building who is not well versed in PBL yet, they can still be a great resource for you. Instructional coaches are typically former classroom teachers with good skills and a heart to help. They often end up with additional jobs that nobody else wants to do like standardized test prep, so if you can give them an avenue into the classroom again, they will jump at it. Ask them to come in and run a workshop for you, so you can differentiate your learning environment. Any workshop will do -- how to research online, collaboration, presentation skills, pulling information from a non-fiction text. Find something they can come in and do to help multiply your time.

Instructional coaches can come in and model a best practice for you. Have them teach a workshop to your whole class, so you can observe and learn a new best practice. Try this! “I’d like to help my learner groups work more smoothly together. Can you help me develop a group contract and help me teach it to my learners? I think this work could benefit a lot of the classrooms around our school.” Then give them the link to the group contracts at the Magnify Learning website. Do you see what we did there? We are getting help with something we desperately need in our class (improving group times) but takes time to create and implement. We are also helping the instructional coach create a lesson they can use to help other classrooms in your school. Win-Win!

Ultimately, it will help you, your learners, and your school if you can help your instructional coach see the way PBL allows us to bring best practices into the classroom. So invite them in often to see the good work you are doing and to give you reflective feedback. You should also invite them to attend an PBL Jumpstart Open Workshop over the summer, so they can formally learn about PBL. They can create a PBL Unit that helps them coach the rest of your staff in PBL...another Win-Win!

Check out the link to get them registered for a workshop: https://www.magnifylearningin.org/pbl-movement

As you work together with your instructional coach, you will find ways to engage learners, tackle boredom, and transform your classroom.

Additional PBL Resources

1. PBL Simplified Sign Up - Get these videos sent to your inbox each week!

2. PBL Simplified Book Study- Want to learn more about what the PBL process looks like in the classroom? Check out this book!

3. The PBL Simplified Podcast - Like listening to podcasts? Tune in each week to hear episodes on PBL-related topics.

4. PBL Movement Online Community - Connect with other like-minded educators and get access to a ton of PBL Resources.

5. PBL Blog Sign Up - If you like these videos, then you can get our PBL blogs sent your inbox as well!

6. Magnify Learning on YouTube Subscribe for the latest videos!