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About Project-Based Learning (PBL)
Dream Academy uses PBL as our primary methodology. Projects are tied to a series of Competencies developed for 21st Century Competency-Based Education (CBE). This PBL-CBE approach creates an engaging and fun learning environment that provides deeper learning and flexibility to develop each student's unique talents and abilities. These competencies ensure college and career readiness, as well as mastery of the skills needed to succeed in today's world.
Template to generate and organize ideas. Example Completed Template
Template based on Foundry CYOA Learning Experience Form
A document outlining attibutes of High Quality Work.
Storm Drains: Windows to the World
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A project completed in Wisconsin through distance learning and the Foundry Platform that traced the path of storm drains and the water that flows into them, from Wisconsin to the ocean.
Inspiration and Excellence
The Inspiring Excellence Series of six videos, approximately five minutes each, takes us behind the scenes in an extraordinary second grade urban classroom as students create a project of remarkable quality over the course of the year. As part of an interdisciplinary study of snakes, students created an interactive e-book about snakes with narrative informational writing, scientific illustrations, and accompanying music composed and played by student musicians.
Part 1 (above) is an overview of the project “Don’t Be Scared: The Truth About Snakes,” including Ron Berger’s thoughts on creating beautiful and complex work.
Part 2 shows Jenna Gampel's second graders building skills and motivation through a whole-class case study of a corn snake before undertaking independent research.
Part 3 shows how students apply their skills to independent research as they access increasingly complex texts.
Part 4 highlights students moving on to creating high-quality work through a process of using models, critique, and revision.
Part 5 shows the students getting ready to write the narrative nonfiction e-book as a vehicle for sharing their learning.
Part 6 is the final video of the series and we see the students refine their writing using story organizers and hone their presentation skills for the recording studio.