Project-Based Learning has a rich and productive history extending for over 100 years. Embark on a journey of discovery to better understand project-based language learning (PBLL) and explore its connections with 21st Century Skills, content-based instruction, performance assessment, and your own instructional context. This year’s Online Institute will feature a special focus on interculturality, the ability to inhabit and interpret different cultures and to reflect upon one’s own culture through the lens of another culture’s values. Experts in the field will guide you through the creation of a project blueprint. Connect with colleagues who have a common interest in quality PBLL implementation.
Complete Option 1 as part of a facilitated cohort or Option 2 via self-paced study. Successfully complete all assigned tasks and earn an NFLRC digital badge, which qualifies you to apply for the NFLRC PBLL Intensive Summer Institute offered each year in Honolulu. Registration for this online institute is $25.
NOTE: The registration deadline for both Option 1 and 2 has passed.
Option 1 (facilitated – limited enrollment)
Registration Deadline (January 22, 2016) has passed.
Session dates
Jan 27 | Feb 03 | Feb 10 | Feb 17 | Feb 24
Session times (Five 90-minute live webinars)
12pm Hawai‘i | 2pm PST | 3pm MST | 4pm CST | 5pm EST
Cost: $25 (non-refundable) – grants access to webinar and to the PBLL online module through December 31, 2016
DEADLINES
- If you are planning to apply for the 2016 PBLL & Interculturality intensive summer institute, you will need to complete all online institute requirements including the Project Blueprint by March 31 (to earn your qualifying badge in time), so plan accordingly.
- If you are not planning to apply for the 2016 PBLL & Interculturality intensive summer institute, you have until July 31 to complete all online institute requirements including the Project Blueprint to earn your digital badge.
Option 2 (self-paced)
Registration Deadline (May 31, 2016) has passed.
First Module (five in all) opens February 3, 2016
Cost: $25 (access to the PBLL online module through December 31, 2016)
DEADLINES
- If you are planning to apply for the 2016 PBLL & Interculturality intensive summer institute, you will need to complete all online institute requirements including the Project Blueprint by March 31 (to earn your qualifying badge in time), so plan accordingly.
- If you are not planning to apply for the 2016 PBLL & Interculturality intensive summer institute, you have until July 31 to complete all online institute requirements including the Project Blueprint to earn your digital badge.
Tech requirements
In order to participate in the online institute, you will need the following:
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Computer with web browser and internet connection
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A Gmail account (or a university/school/organization-affiliated Gmail account) (If you do not have a Gmail account, you can sign up for one for free – https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27441)
Content
Module 1: From PBL to PBLL
- What is Project-Based Learning (PBL)? (Stephen L. Tschudi)
- From PBL to PBLL: What language teachers need to know about adapting PBL to the language education context (Ruslan Suvorov)
- Developing a project idea (Cherice Montgomery)
Module 2: Beginning your project planning
- Starting with the end in mind: Defining outcomes (Yao Hill)
- Task designs for authentic language use (Liliana Lopez)
- The Product Square: Keeping your project on track (Liliana Lopez)
Module 3: Interculturality and PBLL
- What is Interculturality? (Sabine Levet)
- Connecting learners with communities (Sabine Levet & Stephen L. Tschudi)
- Interculturality in lesson and task design (Nicole Naditz)
Module 4: Language, Content & Technology
- Scaffolding Interpretive Communication (Cherice Mongtomery)
- Scaffolding Interpersonal Communication (Cherice Mongtomery)
- Scaffolding Presentational Communication (Cherice Mongtomery)
Module 5: Designing Tasks and Assessment
- Assessing projects (Lauren Scheller)
- Assessing products (Lauren Scheller)
- Finalizing your project blueprint (Sabine Levet & Stephen L. Tschudi)
Format
Option 1:
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Five 90-minute synchronous sessions (7.5 hours)
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Fifteen lessons total (three lessons per each session) in the online module. The activities for each lesson include:
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A core reading
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A short quiz
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A forum discussion
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One peer-reviewed Project Blueprint
The estimated average time for completing each lesson is 1 hour (combining synchronous session time and asynchronous reading, discussion, and quiz time) and for completing the Project Blueprint, 10 hours.
Option 2:
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Fifteen lessons total (three lessons per each session). The structure of each lesson:
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A 20-minute video lecture (archival video from the live webinar)
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A core reading
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A short quiz
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A forum discussion
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One peer-reviewed Project Blueprint
The estimated average time for completing each lesson in the self-paced option is 1 hour (including viewing archival video and completing reading, discussion, and quiz) and for completing the Project Blueprint, 10 hours.
Materials
All materials and resources for the online institute are included in the online module.
FAQ
Will I get a certificate after completing this institute?
You will earn a digital badge granted by the National Foreign Language Resource Center that specifies the following: (a) the description of the institute goals and objectives, (b) the activities you participated in, and (c) evidence of your performance (a link to your Project Blueprint).
DEADLINES
- If you are planning to apply for the 2016 PBLL & Interculturality intensive summer institute, you will need to complete all online institute requirements including the Project Blueprint by March 31 (to earn your qualifying badge in time), so plan accordingly.
- If you are not planning to apply for the 2016 PBLL & Interculturality intensive summer institute, you have until July 31 to complete all online institute requirements including the Project Blueprint to earn your digital badge.
Will I receive university credit?
At this time, university credit is not available for this institute. However, if you complete the institute and submit your Project Blueprint, you will receive an NFLRC Digital Badge that acknowledges your work.
What resources will I need for this institute?
The NFLRC provides all the materials you will need.
I’m taking the facilitated version. What if I miss a webinar?
You will need to learn the missing material on your own time afterwards. Please be advised that video materials and online institute activities will not be available until approximately one week after a the date of the corresponding webinar session, and you will not be able to interact and ask questions as you would during the live facilitated session.
If you think you will have to miss more than half of the live Facilitated sessions, we ask you to change from Option 1 (Facilitated) to Option 2 (Self-Study) to make room for those who can participate in Option 1 (Facilitated) fully. If you need to change options, please contact us at nflrc@hawaii.edu.
Why is there a registration fee? If I don’t use the PBLL online module, can I get a refund?
In order to pay for expenses related to our ongoing offerings of the Fundamentals of PBLL Online Institute, we have decided to start charging registration fees, starting from the 2016 Fundamentals of PBLL Online Institute.
It is the registrant’s responsibility to check their schedule and workload to determine whether they will have sufficient time to complete all 15 lessons and their Project Blueprint before the deadline. Once a person has registered and access to the PBLL online module has been granted, no refunds will be given.
Whom should I contact if I have any questions about the Online Institute?
Please send all your inquiries to nflrc@hawaii.edu.