School Superintendent and PBL Expert Dr. Michael McDowell Shares What He Knows About Project-Based Learning

Since 2015, PBL expert Dr. Michael McDowell has served as the superintendent of the Ross School District. Previously he served as the Associate Superintendent of Instructional and Personnel Services at the Tamalpais Union High School District, a school district that, during Dr. McDowell’s tenure, was recognized by the Marzano Research Laboratories as one of the most reliable educational organizations in the United States.

Over the years, Dr. McDowell has authored several books including Rigorous PBL By Design (2017), The Lead Learner, Developing Student Expertise, Teaching for Transfer, and forthcoming, The Busy Teacher

He is also the author of the 2020 Edutopia post, PBL to Encourage Interdisciplinary Work.

He’s also known for his keynotes and workshop offerings and as someone who has provided many practical tools and resources to thousands of teachers and leaders on almost every continent around the world.

In this episode of Titan Talk, Dr. McDowell answers the questions appearing below (all related to project-based learning)

1. How do you define the term PBL?
2. Can you give an example of a Physics PBL?
3. Can you give an example of an English Lit PBL?
4. Is a mock trial a form of PBL?
5. Is a mock congressional hearing a form of PBL?
6. Is a knock-off TED-Ed Lesson or knock-off Crash Course video a form of PBL?
7. How do you respond to those who say that not all 'projects' should be considered PBL?
8. How do you respond to AP teachers who say that PBL dumbs down the curriculum and therefore fails to properly prepare AP students for the annual AP Exam?
9. How do you respond to those who say that PBL is great for social studies and English classes but not so great for math and science classes?
10. Do you agree with our principal that one of the best things teachers can do in the online era is to put one or more PBLs before their students?
11. Can you tell us about your book, Rigorous PBL by Design?
12. Can you tell us about your August 2020 Edutopia article “PBL to Encourage Interdisciplinary Work?"
13. What do you say to teachers who want to learn more about PBL?
14. Is there anything you want to say in closing?

Titan Talk is hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. Peter can be reached at ppaccone@smusd.us and Andrew can be reached at agayl@smusd.us.

San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles southeast from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish.