Defining Problem-Based Learning

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Overview

In this series of five 2-hour virtual workshops, teachers will be introduced to the Open Up Resources 6-8/IM 6-12 Math Curriculum and how it is designed to help students develop strong conceptual understanding by inviting them to make sense of increasingly challenging problems. In each session, participants will have the opportunity to explore the resources from both a student and a teacher perspective, and to experiment with strategic planning approaches tailored to the unique structures of the curriculum. The process of coming together for multiple sessions will allow teachers to reflect in between meetings, helping them deepen their understanding of the curriculum over time. This introduction to OUR 6-8 Math will leave participants feeling confident and eager to continue to work with this problem-based approach to math instruction. 

This workshop is part of a series. Explore the other workshop sessions below:

• Session A: Defining Problem Based Learning
• Session B: Diving into Unit 1
• Session C: Exploring the Structure of a Lesson
• Session D: Facilitating Problem-Based Activities with the 5 Practices
• Session E: Using Routines to Support All Learners

Audience

This series of workshops is designed for educators new to OUR 6-8/IM 6-12 Math who are preparing to or have recently begun implementing the curriculum with students.

Specifications

• Three, four, or five 2-hour sessions 
• The Launch Virtual Learning Series is designed for any combination of grade 6, 7, and 8 teachers. Special education teachers, administrators, coaches, and others are welcome to join. The sessions can also be tailored to focus on a specific grade level (6th, 7th, or 8th).
• The ideal time for this experience would be over the course of the summer prior to the beginning of the first year of the curriculum implementation. If participants have had the opportunity to pilot a few lessons or a unit of the curriculum, the learning experience will be even richer. The sessions could be scheduled on consecutive days, or with as many as 2 intervening weeks between each session.

Outcome

I use the curriculum resources and structures to teach math with a problem-based approach.

Learning Experience

Session A: Defining Problem Based Learning

• Define the goals of problem-based math
• Explore a lesson from the OUR 6-8 Math Curriculum
• Build understanding of the characteristics that make this curriculum problem-based