PBL Feedback

Today we did the process of Critical Friends model concerning our PBL driving questions. I wanted to write about this experience as I found it to be a professionally informative experience.
 After our team shared our PBL driving question we discussed how we were attempting to do this and our approach. It was good to have another conversation about our PBL and clarifying a few things.
The feedback and discussion by the other group about our PBL was very professional, positive and most importantly helpful. It made us think and clarify things for us and ensure we have a deep understanding of what we are doing by the other group asking provocative questions and giving  feedback. Sometimes it is good to be challenged a little on what you are doing and if done in a constructive and respectful way it can help with your thinking. I felt the feedback was not done in a negative way and was professional. It was done in a supportive way and with the help of senior management it meant it stayed on track.
Another really good thing about sharing our PBL driving questions is we learnt about what others are doing in the school. This time around we got to hear what the Year 7/8 classes were doing which was interesting to see how we are doing similar things but at different levels. It also helped us to discover that the year7/8 children could help us in our PBL.  It is nice to know what others in the school are doing and the fact that we are all heading to a very similar end. 
This Critical Friends model process  helps to form good collaborative relationships with all colleagues including across teams. I feel this process strengthens relationships and helps us to develop as teachers.
Overall I was pleased we did this process and hope that we continue to do this process for future PBL topics.



There are a number of articles on this approach- Critical Friends