A common challenge for teachers entrusted to design engaging projects for students is deciding on final products.

Traditionally trained teachers often gravitate to the old standbys: papers, tests, quizzes, lab reports, paintings. These can fall short in inspiring students and feeling authentic.

An additional challenge is that some teachers have no idea how to make a film, or create a website, or put on a play, or record a podcast.

But most teachers do have hidden talents.

School leaders attempting to spread project-based teaching can try multiple avenues to support this change in thinking about final products, but one of the first should be taking an inventory of the existing expertise within the community.

Ask your teachers what they do with their spare time, what they wish they could do, and what their friends can do.

Examine the list together as a staff to discover what emerges as possible, and grow project designs from there.

If you have google drive, you can make a copy of my form and send to your teachers to begin the process.

Additional Product-Idea Generating Resources

• Processes for product brainstorming available here at High Tech High’s Graduate School of Education website.
• The amazing things students create at NuVu
• And if weird ideas get your brain flowing, there’s always Pinterest.