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SHOW NOTES
In this episode, host Ryan Steuer welcomes Rachel Crawford from Babcock Ranch Neighborhood School in Florida to discuss her journey and research around implementing Project Based Learning (PBL). As a Magnify Learning Model School in the nation’s first solar-powered town, Babcock Ranch’s instructional model and culture have evolved over a decade of growth and learning. Rachel Crawford delves into the school’s challenges and successes, sharing her action research on overcoming barriers to PBL implementation, building sustainable systems, and nurturing teacher efficacy. The conversation provides valuable insights and actionable advice for administrators and school leaders striving for effective, authentic PBL in their own communities.
Main Points
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Babcock Ranch’s Innovative Start: The school opened in the first solar-powered town in America with project-based learning baked into its charter, facing exponential growth and unique challenges along the way.
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PBL Implementation Journey: Rachel Crawford describes a decade-long process, transitioning from training only 10% of teachers implementing PBL to a 95% implementation rate through intentional systems, coaching, and a strong culture of support.
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Barriers and Research: After noticing a post-COVID slump in PBL implementation, Rachel Crawford conducted action research to identify the root causes—discovering hurdles like teacher efficacy, resistance to change, and a lack of consistent support.
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Sustainable Structures: Solutions included communities of practice, structured support systems, accountability measures such as launch schedules, critical friends’ groups, and increased instructional coaching.
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Leadership and Growth Mindset: The episode emphasizes the importance of clear communication from leadership, honest hiring practices, and a relentless focus on the school’s vision and shared language to nurture a culture of growth and innovation.
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Actionable Takeaways for Leaders: Listeners are encouraged to use needs assessments, facilitate honest conversations, and implement scaffolding for staff, regardless of resource limitations.
Notable Quotes
“We had 17 PBLs launched in the first month of school. That is a first for us… I feel like we’re sustainable.”— Rachel Crawford
“A teacher could be trained, but maybe they’re not ready to launch into PBL… You have to bridge the gap between the training and implementation.”— Rachel Crawford
“If you raise the bar, you teach all your students as if they’re gifted. And you know how you get them there… set that same expectation and they will get there.”— Rachel Crawford
Call to Action
Want to see high-fidelity PBL in action or bring these strategies to your school? Visit magnifypbl.com, click on “Events,” and register for upcoming conferences and model school visits!
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