PBL 6

Teacher as Facilitator

Beginning PBL in the classroom changes the role of the teacher dramatically when compared to the traditional sage on the stage guide we have known for many years.  The teacher becomes a facilitator of learning, not the deliverer of instruction.  

An effective facilitator is able to motivate students and has strong communication and questioning skills.  These skills will benefit both the teacher and students.  The facilitator is responsible for moving students through the process of learning.  It may be tempting to point students toward the correct answer, but instead the facilitator should support students to find the correct answer for themselves.  

In my own classroom I can see some very big changes taking place as I implement PBL.  Guiding students through the project will be somewhat familiar to me.  Last year I began genius hour in my classroom which is based on the Google 20% time.  During this time, students were free to create their own project reflecting their own interests.  It was a difficult transition supporting the students while letting them explore and make their own mistakes.  The change that will be the biggest challenge for me this year will be developing questioning skills that will guide students but not directly to the answers.  

I believe the way the PBL lesson is created will influence how I teach this year.  Using activities that guide students through the process is important.  I believe it will change how I teach for every lesson, not just PBL units.  Setting students up for success by giving them appropriate activities that allow them to learn through their own discovery allows the teacher to transition to a facilitator role much more easily.  I am looking forward to the PBL transition.