Structured Activities - Planning Projects - Project Based Learning, Service Learning, and Experiential Learning

Structured Activities 101Planning Projects

Public Health Management CorporationPhiladelphia, PA

Group Norms• One Mic• Step-Up, Step-Back• Keep a Positive Mindset• Your Norms?

Above All – Be Productive and Creative

Objectives

• Identify the planning components of each Structured Activities method

• Evaluate planned components of sample Structured Activities projects

• Develop components of a project plan

Imagine this:

You want to throw the greatest birthday party for yourself (or for a friend).

How would you plan for this?

Planning and Preparation

Project Planning

Activity Planning

Activity Prep

DHS FY 2015 Outcomes• Engagement in Learning• Engagement in School• Aspires to Academic Excellence• Life Skills• Relationship Skills• Ready for College and/or Career

Project Best PracticesReview

Structured Activities aka “Projects”

Structured Activities Approach

Project-basedLearning

ExperientialLearning

ServiceLearning

• Sequenced activities (4-10 weeks)

• Youth interests

• Driving question OR learning objectives

• Culminating product/event

• Staff facilitate, rather than “teach”

Structured Activities: 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

Community Health ProjectStudents noticed that many of their friends have asthma. This prompted the Driving Question “How can we reduce youth asthma in our neighborhood?”

A physician came to talk about the causes of asthma, and students concentrated on pollution and second-hand smoke. Students looked for sources in their neighborhoods, and discussed ways to reduce them.

Driving Question Activities Culminating

Product

Project-Based Learning

Sample DQs

Where should I go to college and what careers will help me make money?

How can I make my first million?

How can I make my first million?

Student Government Campaigns

YouTube Channel

Develop a Business

Activities & Culminating Products

The Service Learning Process

Investigation


ActionReflection

Demonstrate Results + Celebrate

Service Learning Projects, not Community Service activities

Investigation


ActionReflection

Demonstrate Results + Celebrate

Approach 3: What is Experiential Learning (EL)?

The process of making meaningfrom direct experience.

Kolb’s Model of Experiential Learning

Concrete Experience (Do It)

Reflective Observation

(Think About It)

Abstract Conceptualization (Make Sense of It)

Active Experimentation (Apply It to New

Situations)

Experiential Learning ExamplesElementary

• Working on a farm (not just visiting)

• Designing a bug zoo

• Healthy meal on a budget

• Living history (ex. recreating the civil rights or women’s suffrage movements)

• School mural

• Student council

• Producing a Music Video

Experiential Learning ExamplesMiddle

• Creating a proposal to improve school lunches

• Blog/Magazine/comic book publishing

• Top Chef – Restaurant Wars

• Student mentoring in an elementary program





ServiceLearning





ServiceLearning

Review one project and note what you would need to do to plan for

its success.

Activity: Project Review

Review one project and note what you would need to do to plan for

its success.

Share Discussions

Activity: Project Review

• Start w/ project idea• ID project approach (PBL, EL, SL)• Create objectives/driving question• Develop culminating event(s)• Sketch events/activities

Activity: Project Draft

• Projects last 4-10 weeks• Conducted year-round• Max. 2 weeks between projects

Scope of Work Requirements

• 3-4 hours/week during school year

• 6-8 hours/week during the summer

Scope of Work Requirements

Structured Activities Projects- Documentation -

1. Planning Form• Completed prior to implementation•Working document – Revise it!!

Project Documentation2. Task List: youth fill out early in project. • Think through benchmark activities• May be done as Group Task List(s)

Project Documentation 3. Debriefing Form:

• Completed once project is over• Get important feedback• Best Practice: Discuss it first

4. Rubrics: Complete once the project is finished • Staff complete one for each youth• Input into PCAPS

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

Project Documentation

Projects: Not Just a Block on a 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 PBL Chess PBL PBL Free Play

5:15-6:00 Gym Computer Lab

Gym Arts and Crafts

Gym

Mr. T’s 4th Grade Group

Integrate Projects into the schedule



3:30-4:15 Book Club Mad Scientists

Book Club Mad Scientists

Gardening or Design Shop

4:15-5:15 Choice: Martial Arts

Dance

Express Yourself

Choice: Martial Arts

Dance

Choice: Chess

Scrabble Debate

Express Yourself

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


Project 1: Beautify the City





Gardening Design Shop


Dance

Express Yourself


Dance

Choice: Chess

Scrabble Debate

Express Yourself



Project 2: Life Under the Sea





Gardening or Design Shop


Dance

Express Yourself


Dance

Choice: Chess

Scrabble Debate

Express Yourself



Resources• PhillyOST on Pinterest• Intel Projects• Buck Institute for Education (BIE)• Edutopia

Questions?

Feel free to contact [email protected]