I have been a fan of Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People for many years now. Like most fans I know, it is easier to be a fan than it is a fully devoted follower of these habits. Yet the principles espoused in this perennial bestseller fit with so many aspects of life. They fit most especially well in the classroom.
As teachers look at creating authentic assessments in their classrooms using Project Based Learning (PBL), these 7 Habits are indispensable for maintaining student engagement and keeping one’s sanity.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
In this age of standardized assessments, many teachers and administrators are afraid of Project Based Learning because they worry that it “won’t be on the test.” As a teacher, you will have to be proactive in beginning the process. Tie your project to the standards. Demonstrate to your administrators how kids will, in turn, demonstrate proficiency through the project.
Habit #2: Begin With The End In Mind
This is crucial. Don’t think about PBL in terms of “the kids will do this, this, and this. Now let’s think about how they can demonstrate that.” Instead, think about the finished product. Is this a video? A letter? A tutorial? What do you want kids to do at the end? Then, build backwards. Fill in the blanks.
Habit #3: Put First Things FIrst
PBL is cool. It is fun. Kids love it. But never forget that it does have to be tied to your state standards. Establish those up front. Make sure you know what you are going to assess, how you will assess it, and why you are assessing it.
These are the first 3 Habits. We’ll cover the last 4 in our next blog post.
Join the conversation! Leave me a comment.