This book models project-based environments that are intentionally designed around the United States Common Core State Standards (CCSS, 2010) for Mathematics, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS Lead States, 2013) for Science, and the National Educational Technology Standards (ISTE, 2008). The primary purpose of this book is to reveal how middle school STEM classrooms can be purposefully designed for 21st Century learners and provide evidence regarding how situated learning experiences will result in more advanced learning. This Project-Based Instruction (PBI) resource illustrates how to design and implement interdisciplinary project-based units based on the REAL (Realistic Explorations in Astronomical Learning Unit 1) and CREATES (Chemical Reactions Engineered to Address Thermal Energy Situations Unit 2). The content of the book details these two PBI units with authentic student work, explanations and research behind each lesson (including misconceptions students might hold regarding STEM content), pre/post research results of unit implementation with over 40 teachers and thousands of students. In addition to these two units, there are chapters describing how to design one's own research-based PBI units incorporating teacher commentaries regarding strategies, obstacles overcome, and successes as they designed and implemented their PBI units for the first time after learning how to create PBI STEM Environments the REAL way.

Highlights published research showing the effectiveness of modeled PBI units Provides model units as well as showing teachers how they can create project-based environments for their own classroom Includes teacher commentary on the initial challenges and successes in designing and implementing PBI units Includes a special chapter on how and why teachers can locate, read, and translate research literature to their classrooms

Autorentext
Jennifer Wilhelm is currently a Professor of STEM Education in the STEM Education Department at the University of Kentucky. She obtained her Ph.D. in Science/Math Education from the University of Texas at Austin.
Ronald Wilhelm is currently a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Kentucky. He obtained his Ph.D. in Physics from Michigan State University.
Merryn Cole is an Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She obtained her Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Kentucky.

Inhalt
Part I: Key Features of a Project-Based Classroom.- What is a Project-Based STEM Environment?.- How can Project-Based Units be designed for STEM classrooms?.- How is student learning evaluated in a Project-Based Environment?.- How can teachers locate and translate research specific to instructional practice?.- Part II: Example Project-Based STEM Units Designed for the Middle Level.- Realistic Explorations in Astronomical Learning (Middle Level Integrated STEM Unit 1).- Chemical Reactions Engineered to Address Thermal Energy Situations (Middle Level Integrated STEM Unit 2).- Part III: Teacher Commentaries.- Implementation Strategies, Obstacles to Overcome, and Student Learning Successes.- Teacher Designed Project-Based Units at the Middle Level Appendices.