Teaching with Projects - Planning Ahead

Beginning the Planning Process

5 minutes*

• Step 1: Thinking about My Project Plan and Project Design
  
  
• Step 2: Targeting Higher-Order and 21st Century Skills
  
  
• Step 3: Locating Curricular Resource Materials

Step 1: Thinking about My Project Plan and Project Design

After working through this module's activities, you probably have an idea or two about what topic you might want to address in your Project Plan. In this activity, you begin to plan your project. First, you think about some possible components of your project. Then, you collect any curricular materials you might need to create your Project Plan.

Note: This activity is available in the Notebook that you downloaded from the About This Course section on the CD. Refer to Module 1, Planning Ahead, Step 1: Thinking about My Project Plan and Project Design.

Planning Ahead: Thinking about My Project Plan

1. What is the topic of the project that you will develop during this course
2. What real-world connections are you considering for your project?
3. How might you integrate the use of ICT?
4. What project scenario are you considering? What is the big picture or general idea of your project?
5. What roles will your learners play and what tasks will they complete?
   

Step 2: Targeting Higher-Order and 21st Century Skills

21st Century skills are all important for your learners to master to achieve success in the future. Open 21st Century Skills in the Thinking section on the CD. Review the descriptions of each skill and brainstorm what it could mean in your subject / learning area and grade / phase. How can you incorporate these skills into your Project Plan? What would these skills look like in your classroom?

Note: This 21st Century Skills activity is also available as Module 1, Planning Ahead, Step 2: Targeting Higher-Order and 21st Century Skills of the Notebook.

If you have access to the Web, you can obtain additional information on 21st Century skills at the Intel Education website:

1. Open the Intel^® Designing Effective Projects resource:
   
   
   1. Click Thinking Skills.
      
      
   2. Click Higher-Order Thinking.
      
      • For Critical Thinking:
      
      i. Click Analysis.
      
      ii. Click Critical Thinking in the Resources box and review.

      • For Problem Solving:
      
      i. Click Using Knowledge.
      
      ii. Click Problem Solving in the Resources box and review.
      
      • For Creativity:
      
      i. Click Using Knowledge.
      
      ii. Click Creativity in the Resources box and review.
      
      • For Collaboration:
      
      i. Click the top tab of Instructional Strategies.
      
      ii. Click Cooperative Learning.

2. Open the Intel^® Assessing Projects resource.
   
   
   1. Click Self Direction.
   2. Click Overview and Benefits.
   3. Click Formative Assessment.
   4. Click Developing Self-Directed Learners in the Differentiated Instruction box and review.

Step 3: Locating Curricular Resource Materials

If you haven’t already, remember to collect and bring materials (such as textbooks, curricular support materials, assessment standards, samples of learner work, and so forth) that will help you develop your Project Plan. List the items you need to collect.

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