BACK TO PROJECT BASED LEARNING BLOGS
By: Ryan Steuer, CEO
Magnify Learning
Dallas, TX
@ryansteuer
How do you foster authentic PBL Projects if you don’t have Community Partners?
Do you have enough of a network to find Community Partners?
How do you create a pipeline of new Community Partners?
Project Based Learning (PBL) is a dynamic educational approach that immerses students in real-world projects, fostering deep learning and skill development. One key aspect of successful PBL implementation is the involvement of community partners. Community partners bring authenticity, expertise, and real-world relevance to students' projects, enriching their learning experiences. In this blog, we explore the concept of a Community Partner Breakfast, discussing its importance, benefits, and best practices.
What is Project Based Learning?
Project Based Learning (PBL) is a model and framework of teaching and learning where students acquire content knowledge and skills in order to answer a driving question based on an authentic problem, need, challenge, or concern.
Project Based Learning is done collaboratively and within groups, using a variety of employability skills such as critical thinking, communication, and creativity.
PBL incorporates student voice and choice as well as inquiry.
Authentic PBL involves a community partner and a publicly presented end product.
Project Based Learning involves an ongoing process of feedback and revision as well as reflection.
Go to WhatisPBL.com to get more free resources.
Importance of Community Partners in PBL
Community partners play a vital role in PBL by providing authentic experiences, resources, and expertise. By collaborating with businesses, organizations, and individuals outside the classroom, students gain insights into real-world challenges and solutions, making their learning experiences more meaningful and impactful.
Introducing a PBL Community Partner Breakfast
A PBL community partner breakfast serves as a platform for educators to connect with potential community partners and foster collaboration. These breakfast meetings provide an opportunity for educators to discuss project ideas, share goals, and explore ways to integrate community expertise into student projects. A Community Partner Breakfast is also a time for you to show off the great work your learners are doing to leaders in the community. You want to give community leaders good stories to share around town!
3 Tips for the Perfect Community Partner Breakfast
Pick a time your Community Partners will appreciate
Friday morning, once a quarter is the spot we like best. Friday mornings tend to be a casual time for many workplaces, so it can be easier for someone to come in late after attending a community event. Remember, Community Partners want to give back to schools, but they often don’t know how. When you give them a concrete time and place to give back, many will say yes to the invitation. Don’t forget good snacks and don’t run over on time. If you say 8-9:30, don’t go until 9:45.
Invite a mix of known and unknown Community Partners
When I was in the classroom, we invited Dr. Bush to speak to other Community Partners. Dr. Bush analyzed DNA for the state police department (there is a lot of street cred in that sentence). She came into our classrooms and taught our learners about DNA. Super cool!
In front of the Community Partners she gave a speech that we could have never fully given. She told the other Community Partners that it was their duty to get in our classrooms, and then had us pass around a clipboard for them to put their info on for us to contact them. Needless to say, it is powerful to have a school outsider give their live testimony of the value of being a Community Partner.
Show them the Kids
One of the goals of a Community Partner Breakfast is to give leaders in the community positive, powerful stories to tell when they interact with others around town. These stories need to come from the learners themselves. We all know you can talk about the great things happening, but Community Partners want to hear from the kids. Elementary, middle, and high school kids can steal the show. Have some visual representations for Community Partners to see as soon as they walk in. Your Community Partners assume you are doing school like they did when they were kids. They don’t know what Project Based Learning is. You are defining PBL for them. Make it awesome!
Bonus: Prepare the Learners
Yes, your learners are doing amazing things in your classroom, and yes they are having amazing conversations in your classrooms with powerful presentations. However, presenting in front of a new audience without prep can still be intimidating. Community Partners also don’t have rubrics and standards to assess. To wow them, have your learners dress up, speak loudly, do small talk well, and talk about why Community Partners are so important to their learning.
Goals for a PBL Community Partner Breakfast
Enhanced Collaboration: Community partner breakfasts facilitate collaboration between educators and external stakeholders, fostering mutual understanding and support for PBL initiatives.
Authentic Learning Experiences: By involving community partners in project planning, students gain access to authentic resources and real-world contexts, making their learning experiences more meaningful.
Expanded Networks: Community partner breakfasts help educators expand their professional networks and establish long-term partnerships with organizations invested in education.
Positive School Image: Community Partners will have positive, powerful stories to tell others about your school culture and outcomes.
Conclusion
A PBL Community Partner Breakfast offers a valuable opportunity for educators to engage with external stakeholders, foster collaboration, and enhance the authenticity of student learning experiences. By leveraging the expertise and resources of community partners, educators can create meaningful PBL projects that prepare students for success in the real world.
Prefer to Listen to More About Project Based Learning?
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I’m Ryan Steuer – author and thought leader who specializes in Project Based Learning training, coaching, community, and content to help educational leaders fulfill their vision of deeper learning in their schools. I’ve worked with leaders in school districts of all sizes, from 400 students to 100,000 students. These visionary leaders care about their students, but they are often stressed, overworked, and overwhelmed with the work ahead of them. That’s where I come in! I help leaders achieve their PBL vision, lead their staff, AND stop working weekends.
When I’m not guiding school leaders through Project Based Learning mindset shifts, I am outdoors with my wife and 5 kids - canoeing, hiking, biking, and traveling the US in our RV.
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