Brad Sever is currently an assistant principal at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana. He’s also an author, presenter, and PBL trainer with extensive experience in PBL and schools and classrooms. Brad has been deeply involved with the world of PBL. 

His book, Sustainable Project-Based Learning: Five Steps for Designing Authentic Classroom Experiences in Grades 5–12, is all about designing, implementing, and assessing sustainable PBL. Brad shares a wealth of PBL information including asking the right questions and what those questions are. 

 

Episode Highlights: 

[02:04] Brad's "why" is about providing authentic learning experiences for students.

[05:19] It's important for leaders to ask the right questions as opposed to having the right answer.

[08:49] Brad shares a student story about a Civil War interactive museum exhibit where a student went above and beyond. 

[12:30] First steps that principals can take for PBL include focusing on the interested teachers and specific questions as a school.

[15:21] Schools should be intentional about foundational knowledge, the ability to compare & contrast, and making sure students see real world application.

[21:50] The best way to sustain PBL is to conduct teacher action research during teacher collaboration time.

[24:12] Brad talks about flirting, dating, engaged, and married as an analogy to applying PBL in your school using the four questions from his book and action research. 

[26:22] Brad's advice for principals that are on the fence about PBL. 

 

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• What is PBL?
• Ask Ryan
• PBL Simplified: 6 Steps to Move Project Based Learning from Idea to Reality
• Magnify Learning YouTube
• Project Based Learning Stories and Structures: Wins, Fails, and Where to Start
• Ryan Steuer Twitter @ryansteuer
• Strategies For Supporting PBL In Your School Or District 
• Brad Sever Twitter
• Perseverance Education
• Sustainable Project-Based Learning: Five Steps for Designing Authentic Classroom Experiences in Grades 5–12