The Why Behind Power of Project Based Learning 

• Project Based Learning has the element of Culturally Responsive Teaching embedded into the Pedagogy. So naturally all students especially students of color will excel if it is implemented with fidelity and teacher self-efficacy. In the video below, you have a collection of the 7th Graders at the end of this study on their final college visit. If you listen closely, you will feel and hear their why behind learning. 

Pre-Study Set Up & Research Procedures & The How

Problem:

• “The schooling experience of Black students in the U.S continues to be one of dehumanization” (Diem et al., 2021, p.5). The Black male and female 7th grade students in this study have experienced many of the turmoils that accompany a black male student in school. Ranging from lack of access, body shaming, and racial profiling. One of our goals for our Middle School improvement plan is 50% of 7th grade students will score proficient in the English MAP
  
  Hypothesis:

• 7th grade black students will show improvement in a Middle School in ELA Scores as measured by the MAP exam following the implementation of Project-Based Learning over the next school year.​
  
  Methodology:

• The collective reimagination of learning will be what drives this program.

  • The Reciprocal nature of Teacher and learner 

• Mixed Method Research ​

  • Quantitative & Qualitative ​

• Action Research ​

  • In Real Time for Real Change​​​

Data Results 

• See Data Page 

Title of Study: The Impact Of Project-Based Learning on ELA Achievement With 7th Grade Black Male/Female Students In A Middle School.

• The What: PBL is a teaching method in which students learn through problems and inquiry in the real world. And with more exactitude, it is learning that is real and applicable to the students' world and the macrocosm of society. The learning means more than simply learning. The learning is the conduit of self-discovery and self-actualization.  The video under "The Why" unpacks the highest tier of Maslow's Hierarchy for many of the students as they are "Becoming" as Michelle Obama defines it. Listen to some Kanye West as he unpacks some cultural motifs for context as you go deeper into this study. 

Post Study Analysis 

Limitations of the Study: 

• Star Assessment Data did not exist the year prior to this study 

• One Middle School 
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  Implication for Further Study: 

• ​​Conduct the study over a longer period of time. I would suggest 3 years. This allows time for meaningful impact and change of the course of the year and also the study would have larger sample size with the extension of time.

• For this study specifically, complete it for the entire school district. Later Sample Size.​
  
  Recommendations:

• Focus on Writing Instructional Strategy Building Wide.

• Leverage the Reading Literary text Standard as an Anchor standard to strengthen the other ELA standards. The Reading Literary Standard was the highest standard of proficiency.

Conclusion 

• The MAP and Star Assessment data speaks directly to the research question “If Project Based Learning can positively impact the achievement of black 7th grade students as measured by the MAP assessment.” I have concluded that Project Based Learning will positively impact achievement of black 7th grade students