Turning An Entire School System on to PBL for the Long-Term

The School: Aviara Oaks Middle School

The Challenge:
Aviara Oaks is a huge school, with a staff of 45 teachers for grades 6-8. With such a large team, the teaching staff naturally featured a wide range of personalities and approaches to curriculum development. When the school board requested that each school do one PBL project in 2016/2017, Aviara Oaks struggled with how to adapt to this new teaching paradigm.

How would the school create a structure and resources to enable its large teaching staff to put PBL into practice promptly?

The Solution:

• In order to create an effective action plan for Aviara Oaks to engage its students with PBL our plan would enable a comprehensive introduction of PBL
• We would work with the teaching staff during their after school professional development (PD) sessions throughout the 2016-2018 school years.
• We would provide a variety of PD sessions, including two 4-hour “Back to School” professional development trainings.
• We would include 90 minute workshops throughout the year during PD days, with topics ranging from “Assessment 2.0” to “Exhibiting Student Work”, to dive deeper on relevant topics.
• We would deliver 1:1 project coaching during planning times to guide them in planning school projects and preparing for implementation
• We would offer steadily available support; we established regular phone communications with the principal, allowing for guidance and debriefs as needed.
• We offered summer availability, meeting with teachers for 1:1 coaching as needed, to assure inclusion of as many teachers as possible.

The Results:

• Aviara’s teachers took advantage of the PD opportunities-we provided 7 workshops over 2 years
• Teachers quickly grasped concepts, finding PBL implementation to be straightforward, manageable, and inspiring.
• Principal observed increased staff engagement and enthusiasm.
• Principal noted successful implementation of PBL across all classrooms within the requested time frame.
• Teachers expressed strong appreciation for the consistent presence and accessibility of the PBL training team, and for CraftEd’s familiarity with the unique considerations of AOMS.
• Teachers received collaboration and 1:1 personal guidance as they planned fully-integrated, interdisciplinary projects for the first time.
• Teachers were trained, inclusive of all content areas/classrooms.
• Teachers received access to a library of supportive resources and services to continue to further the work.
• Upon request, CraftEd has maintained an ongoing coaching relationship with the school for two years – and counting!
• The school, which serves 1,117 students, now features at least 2 PBL projects/year in each class!
• The school has requested additional sessions to guide teaching staff in advancing PBL into third and additional projects.