PROJECT BASED LEARNING IN SCHOOLS
Course
Project Based Learning in schools
OFFER | PROJECT BASED LEARNING IN SCHOOLS
During this 5-day course, you will learn how provide engaging experiences that encourage students to learn and apply their knowledge and skills. You will develop teaching competencies related to Project Based Learning (PBL), which allows deeper learning in-context and the development of important skills relevant to career readiness and practical problem solving.
We will focus on the following PBL challenges:
- Identifying meaningful subjects for projects.
- Building and facilitating student cooperation.
- Empowering students to act autonomously.
- Combining the role of being teacher, mentor, and facilitator.
- How to assess PBL results.
Taking into consideration the challenges that the pandemic has brought about in education, we will also cover the issue of PBL in an online environment. You will have the opportunity to learn about useful online tools and resources, and get inspiration for new project ideas.
- The course is enriched by our specially developed project management approach tailored to education and social project development and implementation. We will demonstrate how to use different methods and tools that support PBL implementation in schools:
- Effective PBL programmes/curricula development: Using a best practice model created by Danish innovative education centre, Chaos Pilot. This method will
support you in designing a PBL learning programme based on student needs. - Design Thinking Methodology – This method is used in business and other sectors to boost innovation and creative problem solving. We combine it with PBL for creative results and applicable skills development.
- Project management tools: Our custom-designed M-Powered project management tools will provide you with practical knowledge, exercises, and fun! For this course, we chose PM tools to support both teachers and students in their PBL journey.
- Our sessions are fun, interactive and include guaranteed effective methods and tools.
- Outdoor activities (such as hiking, cycling, and climbing) in the morning and workshops in the afternoon. We believe that physical activity opens the mind
to learning and creativity! - Hands-on experience with practical project management tools at our workshops that can then be brought home to share with colleagues.
- Networking with people from all over Europe who work on similar projects.
- Relaxation and reflection in some of the most beautiful places in Ireland and Poland.
For whom?
This course is for anyone who is engaged in education on any level.
What do we expect from participants:
- English level – communicative / intermediate 60%
- Physical fitness – you enjoy gentle physical activity, such as cycling and hiking 40%
- Good attitude and openness 🙂 90%
PROJECT BASED LEARNING
During this 5-day course, you will learn how provide engaging experiences that encourage students to learn and apply their knowledge and skills. You will develop teaching competencies related to Project Based Learning (PBL), which allows deeper learning in-context and the development of important skills relevant to career readiness and practical problem solving.
We will focus on the following PBL challenges:
- Identifying meaningful subjects for projects.
- Building and facilitating student cooperation.
- Empowering students to act autonomously.
- Combining the role of being teacher, mentor, and facilitator.
- How to assess PBL results.
Taking into consideration the challenges that the pandemic has brought about in education, we will also cover the issue of PBL in an online environment. You will have the opportunity to learn about useful online tools and resources, and get inspiration for new project ideas.
- The course is enriched by our specially developed project management approach tailored to education and social project development and implementation. We will demonstrate how to use different methods and tools that support PBL implementation in schools:
- Effective PBL programmes/curricula development: Using a best practice model created by Danish innovative education centre, Chaos Pilot. This method will
support you in designing a PBL learning programme based on student needs. - Design Thinking Methodology – This method is used in business and other sectors to boost innovation and creative problem solving. We combine it with PBL for creative results and applicable skills development.
- Project management tools: Our custom-designed M-Powered project management tools will provide you with practical knowledge, exercises, and fun! For this course, we chose PM tools to support both teachers and students in their PBL journey.
- Our sessions are fun, interactive and include guaranteed effective methods and tools.
- Outdoor activities (such as hiking, cycling, and climbing) in the morning and workshops in the afternoon. We believe that physical activity opens the mind
to learning and creativity! - Hands-on experience with practical project management tools at our workshops that can then be brought home to share with colleagues.
- Networking with people from all over Europe who work on similar projects.
- Relaxation and reflection in some of the most beautiful places in Ireland and Poland.
For whom?
This course is for anyone who is engaged in education on any level.
What do we expect from participants:
- English level – communicative / intermediate 60%
- Physical fitness – you enjoy gentle physical activity, such as cycling and hiking 40%
- Good attitude and openness 🙂 90%
Locations and dates
Killary Lodge, Derrynacleigh, Leenane, Ireland
Date: contact marzena@m-powered.eu
Course fee: €490
We run many of our courses in this amazing location on the west coast of Ireland. It’s called Killary Lodge. It is a brand-new villa, just 250 m from the waters of Killary Fjord, in the heart of Ireland’s stunning Wild Atlantic Way. Killary Lodge is situated in a nature lover’s paradise. There are numerous walks and hikes nearby, in the mountains, through forests, trails and beaches, as well as endless cycling routes and lots of swimming options, both in the fjord and at nearby beaches. Connemara National Park is just 15km away.
Krakow, Poland
Date: contact marzena@m-powered.eu
Course fee: €490
Erasmus+ client support
Erasmsus+ programme can cover all of the associated costs (travel, course fees) allowing your organisation to participate FOR FREE in this course!
Writing a successful project application is not easy. Our team of experienced project writers would like to support you. Completing the application process with our assistance is much easier than doing it on your own, guaranteeing you a higher success rate of being approved for funding.
Read about our SUPPORT here.
M-Powered PIC number: 915657982
OID code: E10172805
The course price includes
37 hours of workshops and teambuilding activities run by experienced trainers (in Ireland or Poland)
Custom-designed project management tools which will provide you with practical knowledge, exercises, and fun!
Welcome package “I’m M-Powered” worth €19,99 (a towel, a notebook and a bag) + maps of the course place
Course programme
The programme may change, according to the weather, participants’ requirements, or other issues. The participants will receive a detailed programme a month before the course.
Day 1 – Sunday
Duration of activities: 3 h
| 4:00 pm | Arrival to Killary Lodge and room allocation |
| 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Welcoming session |
| 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Sauna on the beach & a swim in the Killary fjord |
Day 2 – Monday
Duration of activities: 8 h
| 7:30 am – 8:00 am | Guided meditation (optional) |
| 8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 09:00 am – 1:00 pm | Diamond Hill hike, Connemara National Park |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Break |
| 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Workshop: – Introduction to Project-Based Learning: Why PBL is important and a good solution for schools. – Best practices in PBL |
| 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner |
| 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Break |
| 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm | Workshop: – Standards of PBL vs the reality of the school environment. |
Day 3 – Tuesday
Duration of activities: 8 h
| 8:30 am – 9:00 am | Guided meditation (optional) |
| 9:00 am – 10:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:00 am – 1:00 pm | Teambuilding outdoor activity session: Killary High Ropes Course |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Break |
| 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Workshop: – Planning a PBL Unit (based on Chaos Pilot best practice). |
| 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner |
| 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Break |
| 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm | Workshop: – Creating a PBL classroom environment. |
Day 4 – Wednesday
Duration of activities: 8 h
| 8:30 am – 9:00 am | Guided meditation (optional) |
| 9:00 am – 10:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:00 am – 1:00 pm | Teambuilding outdoor activity session: Bushcraft |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Break |
| 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Workshop: – The Design Thinking method for implementing PBL in schools. |
| 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner |
| 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Break |
| 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm | Workshop: – Design Thinking jam: Project development in practice. |
Day 5 – Thursday
Duration of activities: 8,5 h
| 8:00 am – 8:30 am | Guided meditation (optional) |
| 8:30 am – 9:30 am | Breakfast |
| 9:30 am – 1:00 pm | Teambuilding outdoor activity session: “Famine trail’ (hike along the Killary fjord) & sheepdog demonstration |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Break |
| 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Workshop: – Effective PBL facilitation skills for teachers. – Empowering students to work as a team. |
| 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner |
| 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Break |
| 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Workshop: – Developing a tailored PBL Unit. – PBL assessment. Certificates ceremony and celebration! |
Day 6 – Friday
Duration of activities: 2 h
| 9:00 am – 10:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:00 am – 12:00 noon | Reflection & evaluation |
| 12:30 noon | Departure Killary Lodge |
| 2:00 pm | Galway |
The programme may change, according to the weather, participants’ requirements, or other issues. The participants will receive a detailed programme a month before the course.
Day 1 – Monday
Duration of activities: 8 h
| 9:00 am – 10:30 am | Welcome session |
| 10:30 pm – 12:30 noon | Workshop: – Introduction to Project-Based Learning: Why PBL is important and a good solution for schools. – Best practices in PBL. |
| 12:30 noon – 1:30 pm | Lunch |
| 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Workshop: – Standards of PBL vs the reality of the school environment. |
| 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Free time |
| 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm | Guided evening walking tour from the Main Square to the Vistula River and river cruise (1h Vistula river cruise) |
| 7:00 pm | Dinner in the Old Town |
Day 2 – Tuesday
Duration of activities: 8 h
| 9:00 am – 12:00 noon | Study visit to an NGO that created educational projects in Poland and Europe |
| 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Workshop: – Planning a PBL Unit (based on Chaos Pilot best practice). – Creating a PBL classroom environment. |
Day 3 – Wednesday
Duration of activities: 8 h
| 9:00 am – 10:00 am | Cycling to Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec (approx. 13 km from the Old Town on a cycle path along the river) |
| 10:00 am – 11:00 am | Coffee and sightseeing of the abbey |
| 11:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Workshop: – The Design Thinking method for implementing PBL in schools. |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Lunch |
| 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Workshop: – Design Thinking jam: Project development in practice. |
| 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Cycling back to Krakow |
Day 4 – Thursday
Duration of activities: 8,5 h
| 9:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Workshop: – Effective PBL facilitation skills for teachers. – Empowering students to work as a team. |
| 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm | Walk to Kosciuszko Mound (6km) through the Jewish quarter where we will also have lunch |
Day 5 – Friday
Duration of activities: 7 h
| 9:00 pm – 12:00 pm | Workshop: – Developing a tailored PBL Unit. – PBL assessment. |
| 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Certificate ceremony and celebration! Reflections and course evaluation |
Course details – travel, food, accommodation and outdoor activities
TRAVEL
The best way to get to Killary Lodge is to fly to Dublin Airport (ideally on Sunday morning). From the airport, you can take one of the buses to Galway: Citylink or GoBus. The journey takes around 2.5 to 3 hours.
We organise transport from Galway to Killary Lodge. It takes around 1.5 hours and costs approx €15.00 one way (you can pay the driver or he can send you an invoice). We’ll book a driver when all the participants confirm the time of their arrival.So, please, let us know as soon as you book your flights.
The course starts on Sunday evening with a welcoming dinner and finishes on Friday around noon.
You will leave Killary Lodge on Friday afternoon. The best option is to book a flight home on Saturday. You can also stay an extra night in Galway (which we recommend!) or in Dublin. If you would like to do some sightseeing, we recommend visiting the beautiful Cliffs of Moher. You can book a bus day trip from Galway.
ACCOMMODATION
The course is organised in Killary Lodge. All participants and trainers will stay in this villa.
The lodge features a beautiful, fully equipped kitchen with a large dining area. There is also a stylish lounge, which opens out onto an extensive outdoor area. The lounge has 3 large couches and plenty of comfortable chairs so there is plenty of space for everyone to sit and socialise. Further seating is available in the adjacent reception room.
Each of the 10 spacious bedrooms are individually designed with bespoke features. All bedrooms are en-suite with bathrooms equipped with rainforest showers. Most bedrooms are very flexible in their configuration; some can be set up as twin or king rooms, others have bespoke fold down beds or wooden bed pods. These pods give great privacy and some of them are bunk pods, which are always a huge hit with kids and adults alike!
Price (5 nights’ accommodation + food + outdoor activities):
- € 490 if sharing a room with 2-4 other participants
- € 560 for single room allocation
FOOD
Nutrition is essential for our bodies and minds to work properly. In Connemara, you’ll eat a lot of vegetables, fruits, and fish. Our delicious dinners will be cooked by Kim and Reinaldo, a couple who run a food truck called Misunderstood Heron, which was recently named one of the 10 Coolest Food Trucks in the World by the Lonely Planet travel guides!
The price of meals (3 meals per day) is included in the accommodation price.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
We always combine physical activity into our courses. We adapt outdoor activities to participants’ fitness level. Proposed activities are:
- Hiking along the Killary Fjord and watching a sheepdog demonstration
- Cycling in Connemara to Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Gardens
- Stretching exercises
- Climbing
WHAT TO BRING
- Comfortable clothes
- Warm and waterproof clothing for hiking, cycling, and other outdoor activities
- Waterproof shoes
- Hair dryer (if you need one)
- Favourite snacks and a bottle of wine if you like (the nearest shop is 5 km from the Lodge!)
- Swimwear (On the first evening, we organise a sauna session on the beach with a swim in the fjord. This activity is optional.)
You can read more about the venue, environment, and our approach in one of our blog articles. You can also find photographs of previous workshops on our blog.
TRAVEL AND ATTRACTIONS
Most people travelling to Krakow will arrive at John Paul II International Airport (KRK). It lies 15km outside the city centre, a mere 20-minute train ride. However, some airlines still serve Katowice Airport (KTW), roughly 100km away.
Once you fly to Krakow airport (KRK), taking the train is the fastest way to reach the city centre. It is a 20-minute ride. Taxis, Ubers, and private drivers will drive you to the centre in about 35 minutes. Public buses usually take 50 minutes to reach the main station (they have many stops along the way). The cost of getting from the Airport to the city centre varies from 4 zł (PLN) for a public bus, up to 100 zł (PLN) for a taxi.
Krakow is a very walkable city so, once you arrive, consider exploring on foot instead of via bus and tram. See a guide to Getting Around In Krakow for more details.
If you would like to stay a couple more days in Krakow, we recommend to visit:
- Wieliczka Salt Mine
- Wawel Royal Castle
- Schindler’s Factory
- Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps
ACCOMMODATION
There are a lot of hotels and apartments in Krakow. You can book your accommodation on one any hotel website, such as www.booking.com or www.trivago.com. If you are not sure how far your hotel will be from the course venue, please get in touch with us at marzena@m-powered.eu . We will be happy to help!
FOOD
Nutrition is essential for our bodies and minds to work properly. In Krakow, we will bring you to restaurants where you’ll be able to order healthy lunches and dinners. We will also provide healthy and tasty snacks to keep you energised during the workshops and coffee breaks.
Lunches will be served in a nearby restaurant. Each participant will pay for themselves (an average lunch price is €5 – €8). We’ll also organise one big group dinner on Monday to show you one of our favourite Krakow restaurants (average dinner price is €15 – €20).
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
We always combine physical activity into our courses. We adapt outdoor activities to participants’ fitness level. Proposed activities are:
- Walking tour of Krakow Old Town
- In warm months (April-September), cycling to a Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec (13km one way along the Vistula River on a cycle path)
- In cold months (October – March), walking tours of the famous salt mines in Wieliczka and Bochnia
WHAT TO BRING
- Comfortable clothes
- You can buy almost anything you need in Poland cheaply as it is a reasonably priced country, so the golden rule is to always pack less! Bigger supermarkets are open late, even 24 hours (although shops are closed on Sundays). You can also rely on the Żabka chain of convenience stores from roughly 6am – 11pm daily.
- You do not need a lot of toiletries – Toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, soap, razors and deodorant are available in every ‘drogeria’ at roughly the same price as in other European countries. Look for a branch of Rossmann, Natura or Biedronka.
MONEY IN POLAND
- Poland’s currency is the złoty, abbreviated to zł or PLN.
- Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards are widely accepted in Polish shops and ATMs (‘bankomat’).
- A couple of museums are cash only and it useful to carry coins for public toilets and snacks from street vendors. In some restaurants, you can only tip staff with cash. However,the vast majority of places will accept a debit or credit card as well as contactless payment.
- A general rule of thumb is to buy roughly 300zł (about €70) at home and bring it with you as backup. You can always get more from an ATM.
Trainers
Marzena Wieczorek
Project Management and Design Thinking Trainer
Kasia Piecuch
Design Thinking Certified Moderator
Methodology: minimum PowerPoint presentation – maximum practice
David A. Kolb
We truly believe in this statement and we design our courses based on a methodology called the Kolb’s cycle. According to Kolb, effective learning happens when a person progresses through a cycle of four stages:
- having a concrete experience followed by
- observation of and reflection on that experience which leads to
- the formation of abstract concepts (analysis) and generalisations (conclusions) which are then
- used to test hypothesis in future situations, resulting in new experiences
Benefits
You will learn how to:
- Inspire curiosity and engage students in critical thinking and problem solving.
- Facilitate learning through projects.
- Develop vital student skills such as critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving.
- Identify and respond to risks in an international project environment.
- Deliver high quality PBL processes and results.
- Combine PBL with the Design Thinking method.
- Identify and manage stakeholders.
- Other benefits include increased confidence, enjoyment, and satisfaction in your work and improved English language competences.
