Work That Matters: The Teacher's Guide to Project-Based Learning

Patton, A. (2012). Work that matters: The teacher’s guide to project-based learning. (pp. 22-30).
     London: Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Retrieved from
     http://www.innovationunit.org/sites/default/files/Teacher's Guide to Project-based Learning.pdf

Summary:
Work That Matters outlines the main components of Project Based Learning as exhibition, critiques, and multiple drafts. They assert that, not only will these components make your projects better, but they will increase the work ethic and culture of your classroom overall.

Exhibition is essential because it pushes students to do the highest quality work. "When students know that the work they are creating in a project will be displayed publicly, this changes the nature of the project from the moment they start working – because they know they will need to literally stand by’ their work, under scrutiny and questioning from family, friends, and total strangers." Exhibitions give students more feedback than a letter grade ever could and bring student's work into the community to be appreciated by a larger audience.

The book lays out a format for planning your own exhibition a possible rubric to use if your exhibition requires the use of an outside panel.


Quotes:
"When students know that the work they are creating in a project will be displayed publicly, this changes the nature of the project from the moment they start working – because they know they will need to literally stand by’ their work, under scrutiny and questioning from family, friends, and total strangers."

Analysis:
Work That Matters is a great guide for people new to the world of PBL. It walks the instructor through a step-by-step process for the essential components of a project. It also offers examples of projects that others have done before. 

I appreciate the delineation of why exhibitions are essential: to connect to the community, encourage more in depth content knowledge and as a format of assessment. In my research, I was looking for clarity on this matter. The book helped me realize that it's impossible to narrow down the purpose to one single thing, as exhibitions serve a variety of different purposes.

AW