Welcome to the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast. Each week we bring you discussions with educators on how they use blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning to better serve their learners. In this episode, Zach Diamond is joined by Steve Schlarman to discuss the challenges of teaching multiple different courses simultaneously and some of the solutions Steve has discovered to ease them.

Steve, a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Biomedical Science teacher shares his journey of implementing Modern Classrooms Project strategies. Steve emphasizes the significance of authentic assessment and dialogue with students, asserting that open-ended questions, such as those in PLTW, lead to more meaningful conversations and insights into student understanding. Discussing Project-Based Learning in his class, Steve highlights its transformative impact, providing real-world applications that engage students beyond traditional curricula.

Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:

• Authentic Assessment and Dialogue: Open-ended questions in PLTW facilitate genuine conversations, allowing teachers to understand student misconceptions better. Steve expresses, "It's just a much more authentic way to spark a conversation around what the student doesn't know yet."

• Project-Based Learning (PBL) Significance: PBL enhances student engagement by incorporating real-world applications, offering a framework that sparks curiosity and encourages experimentation. Highlighting the unique aspect of PBL, Steve says, "[Students are] thrown another patient who has something completely different. And it's a completely new problem. That's why they call it problem-based learning."

• Balancing Rigor and Enjoyment: Steve strives to create a challenging curriculum while maintaining an enjoyable learning experience, fostering a passion for healthcare professions.

Steve reflects on the rewards of guiding students through independent projects, showcasing the success of his seniors in competitions and scholarships. As a mentor-in-training, he aims to support others navigating multiple preps, emphasizing the value of collaboration and mentorship.

Discussion questions for PLC and PD: 

• How can incorporating open-ended questions into your assessments enhance authentic dialogue with students, providing deeper insights into their understanding? Share specific strategies you have used or plan to implement in fostering meaningful conversations around student responses.

• In what ways have you integrated Project-Based Learning (PBL) into your curriculum, and what impact has it had on student engagement and real-world application of knowledge? Reflect on the challenges and successes you've experienced with PBL, and explore potential enhancements to make it an even more transformative learning experience.

• Balancing rigor and enjoyment in the classroom is crucial for student success. How do you currently strike a balance between challenging your students with rigorous content and creating an enjoyable learning environment? Share your experiences and seek input on innovative approaches to maintain this equilibrium.

Our Host

Zach Diamond studied Music History and Theory at Oberlin College and received a Masters of Music in Music Education from Boston University. He taught music for five years in Lima, Peru, and is currently a Middle School music teacher at DC International School, a language-immersion school where he teaches in Spanish. He began implementing the Modern Classrooms Model in the 19-20 School Year and enthusiastically continues his work with the organization as a mentor and podcast producer.

Our Guest

I am a former plant genetics researcher with the USDA. This is my 10th year teaching, my second district, and I've taught every core science subject, but it wasn't until I started teaching with Project Lead the Way that I really became more passionate in education. PLTW is a company that provides a project-based curriculum for biomedical science, computer science, and engineering. I now absolutely love my job. I couldn't say that before MCP and PLTW. I liked it, but now I am soulmates with my job. I am a lab manager and a teacher all rolled into one. MCP helps me meet my students at their level and makes my teaching much more intentional.

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