More than 30 educators participated in a three-day workshop at Tech Valley High School designed to promote a deeper understanding of project-based learning (PBL).
The 2015 PBL Institute was offered by Questar III, Capital Region BOCES and Tech Valley High School in partnership with NYS ASCD and the Buck Institute for Education, an international leader in high-quality PBL.
The workshop engaged participants – which included Tech Valley High School staff and educators throughout the state – in learning the principles for designing, assessing and managing standards-focused projects. It also explored how to use performance assessments to judge the work generated by students engaged in PBL.
Questar III Deputy Superintendent Matt Sloane said the hands-on workshop modeled the approach used by teachers at Tech Valley High School.
“Project-based learning lets students learn by doing, whether it is working alongside their peers or an expert in the field. In this case, educators had the opportunity to go beyond the classroom, both literally and figuratively, to design projects for students,” Sloane said.
Workshop attendees also received peer feedback using the Buck Institute for Education’s model and tools.
The PBL Institute was one of the many professional development opportunities available at Tech Valley High School throughout the year. The school also offers study tours, workshops and teacher shadowing.
