PBL Beginnings

At the end of the last school year, our principal purchased the “PBL Starter Kit” for each teacher.  Although my case study for my master’s degree program was on PBL, I found that there were many great ideas within this book that I could easily implement throughout the school year.  In fact, I wouldn’t even say that they were ideas, but more like helpful suggestions to effectively implementing PBL within a classroom.  Throughout the years, I feel that I have implemented a lot of great PBL activities within my classroom, but I wanted something that would truly introduce the material while going through the project.  I think I have done this in the past but, this time, I wanted to take the risk and remove the direct teaching of the content and allow the project to teach the content, skills, and ideas.

For instance, during the Statistics & Probability project that I have created and refined over the last few years, the students complete a survey, gather data, analyze the results of the survey, and use a variety of statistical and probability-related skills to complete this project.  The project starts at the beginning of the unit and is completed at the end of the unit.  It effectively uses 21st century skills, including technology, critical thinking, creativity, and communication.  In addition to this, the students receive some direct instruction, as well as homework and practice.  To me, I believe that this blends project-based learning with a bit of the structured education that students often need.

Is there anything wrong with the PBL above?  Not at all.  The students are still modeling the inquiry-based process that I think is highly important in education.  They are still demonstrating the use of 21st century skills.  There is nothing wrong with it at all, but I wanted to try something slightly different.  Something a bit risky and with a slight twist.

The Stock Market Game

Before the school year began, I found myself researching a variety of projects that I felt could turn into this long-term, comprehensive PBL unit.  I knew that I wanted the following things to present within the PBL unit:

• A focus on integers, decimals, and percents.
• A focus on the Ratios & Proportions CCSS standards.
• The use of relevant, 21st century skills.
• A hook – something that would interest and excite students.

One of the main reasons that I wanted to focus on the CCSS RP standards is that, as a Math 7 Honors teacher, I blend Math 7 and Math 8 into on year.  My goal was to find a way to cover these standard in a way that was different and engaging to students.  Not that I don’t think my students find my current lesson plans engaging, but I think that there is a balance that must occur.  So, how could I teach these standards in a way where traditional note taking, homework, quizzes, and tests were put aside?  Where the learning occurred within the project?

That’s when I found, the Stock Market Game.  It was exactly what I was looking for and contained an enormous amount of resources to help teachers implement this project within their classroom.

I decided that on Mondays, we would work on our Stock Market Game (Project).  It would be the day that we took a break from traditional note taking, homework, quizzes, etc, and spent time reviewing the concept of the Stock Market with the intent of participating in the online game.  Here is the premise:

“Connect students to the global economy with virtual investing and real-world learning.”

Students will be placed into groups of 3-4 students and will be given a virtual $100,000 to invest.  Their investments will be based upon real-time stocks, mutual funds, and bonds.  The students will need to have an understanding of the terms and vocabulary within the stock market, as well as mathematical skills such as operations on integers and decimals, percent of change, commission, etc.

When I introduced the idea to the students, they were thrilled.  The idea of being able to invest a virtual $100,000 was interesting and exciting.  It was the hook that I was looking for to be able to deliver the content.

Over the last several weeks, we have spent time reviewing the terms and vocabulary of the stock market (there’s a lot!), discussing risk tolerance, and understanding how to read stock quotes.  Tomorrow, however, will be the day that the students are given their accounts and will be able to begin investing their money into the companies of their choice.  Even more interesting is that the students will be competing against other students in the region, state, and nation.

I’m excited and curious how this will turn out.  Could it be a success?  Could it be a failure?  Honestly, as long as students learn, I do not believe that there can be a failure with this project.  Even if they a lot of money to the stock market, as long as they understand the concept and the skills taught, it will be a success.  More importantly, if students find value in what they are learning, then it will be an enormous success.

I’ll keep you updated on how it goes…!