BTLC, PBL, and what it all boils down to.

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These are just some of the new terms I learned today at my PBL (Project Based Learning)training at the BTLC (Buddy Training Learning Center (no, it's not a teacher rehab center)).

I will admit, I was nervous as all get out last night as I was alone... in Indy... having survived various creepers throughout my day. The first was a truck driver who wouldn't let me pass him and kept honking his horn, which always makes me nervous when any vehicle honks a horn at me as I'm afraid there's something wrong with my car (a valid concern for me if you know my history with cars functioning properly). Needless to say, there wasn't anything wrong with my car.

The second creeper experience was dealing with the conartists who were working the stopped traffic for cash for their "broken down car", a man with a gas can and a woman with pigtails (the pigtails aren't important, just a bad fashion choice in my oppinion). I hate it when people come up to my car and knock on my window... especially when I'm by myself stuck at a red light. The woman approached me first and asked if I had any cash as I was on my way to grab some Chipotle for dinner. Then, on my way back from grabbing my burrito, the man approached my car with his still empty gas can... which is surprising since I saw at least 3 cars give him money as I was on my way to Chipotle... Again, I hate it when people come up to my car and knock on my window... when I'm by myself stuck at a red light. >:(

Thankfully, my training session today had no creepers, just friendly educators who want to reach and teach their students. =)

Let me tell you a little about PBL, this training I'm receiving. Project Based Learning is just another way to describe inquiry based/discovery learning, the very things the lovely and talented Professor Owen hammered away into my little brain during my Methods of Teaching Elementary Science course at Grace. Already, from just today, I have been reaffirmed in my beliefs that hands-on, experiential learning engages students in a way that no other teaching method can. Be forewarned, I'm not afraid to throw around names of others who share my beliefs. That's right, Vygotsky, Piaget, they're with me.

I have to admit, this stuff gets me very excited about school and learning. I am a complete nerd. I realized this as Mozart serenaded me (via Pandora) while I gripped my highlighters and pen, scratching up the chapter that was assigned for homework from today's training. Reading about research done in the field of education, bringing my own unique perspective to the text, and interacting with it as I write down the connections and questions my brain formulates gives me a rush of adrenaline. I'm serious, my heart beats faster when I read stuff like this!

Here are a few thoughts I have from my reading:

Project Based Learning promotes community and collaboration not only with those in the classroom. I need to find ways to connect my students with those who actually use the knowledge I want them to gain so that they may see real life application of the subjects.

I would love to have my fellow teachers perform a peer evaluation of my teaching techniques. Students are not the only learners in the classroom. And just as I have my students evaluate and provide feedback to their peers, I wonder how I would be challenged in my teaching if my peers did the same for me.

These are the two biggest things I gathered from my reading. At the end of this week I will be presenting my own PBL unit which I will build over the course of the next several days. In addition to building a unit, I will develop my first ever podcast, continue to add tabs to my new Delicious account, and access BTLC's moodle to find more resources.

And what it all boils down to is this, I love learning about learning!