What is the main difference between ‘doing a project’ and PBL? A project is the product or the summary/evidence of learning that has been mostly teacher led. PBL is the learning, that is not done in isolation or as homework; it is the process of pupil inquiry, to learn about/understand/apply knowledge to relevant topics that have real life application and purposeful end products as a result. Taking this approach contributes to almost every one of Portlethen Academy’s 6 Aspects of Learning.

To fulfil the seven key design elements of project-based learning (PBL), teachers at Portlethen will use the following six protocols:

1. Driving Question – create a question that frames an action for a target audience or purpose. 

2. Hook/Entry event - this should be something that does exactly that – ‘hook’ the students – highlighting in an engaging, exciting way, what the project focus will be (6 Aspects of Learning – ‘Purpose’) and ultimately lead the pupils to ask questions (see No. 3 Need-to-Knows).

3. Need-to-Knows – passing the ownership of the learning to the pupils.

4. Gallery Walk – a formative assessment tool that promotes student agency and collaboration while nurturing a culture that welcomes feedback and continuous improvement. (6 Aspects of Learning – ‘Assessment’ & ‘Feedback’).

5. Partner Involvement – linked to ‘Purpose’ & ‘Application’ from our 6 Aspects of Learning – an external input that enhances the classroom learning/experience and provides an authentic learning experience and real-world relevance to pupil learning and work.

6. Product or presentation of learning – it is important that pupil work is celebrated and showcased and used according to the purpose and application of the project.

PBL @ Porty is a timetabled class for S1 and S2 pupils where for 2 periods a week, for 6 weeks, pupils cover a variety of learning experiences not specifically linked to one ‘traditional’ subject area but covering a range of experiences and outcomes from within the Broad & General Education phase (S1-S3). However, all teachers can, and should, use some of the above protocols within their subject classroom teaching.

What is Clan?

Clan is probably best described like a tutor group in other schools; however, it has a much more fundamental importance.

Based on the founder of Outward Bound Kurt Hahn’s term “crew”, where every member of the group are considered “crew, not passengers, and are strengthened by acts of consequential service to others”, Clan is a term that Portlethen Academy decided to use as a Scottish term acknowledging a group of people with strong common values or interests. Each Clan then takes time at the start of S1 to find those common values or interests to name their Clan.

Clan fosters an additional sense of belonging in pupils, and is a place where pupils learn to be the best version of themselves, whilst helping all pupils to show respect, take responsibility, and build resilience, and to be the very best they can be – in school, at home, and in the wider community.

Why do we believe that Clan will have a positive impact for our pupils?

Our intention is that Clan helps to bridge deliberate curricular inputs and wider skills development. We believe that participation in Clan every day will allow pupils to build strong, positive relationships; develop and practice wider skills and personal qualities such as communication, confidence, teamwork, empathy, which will in turn help them to fully engage with their learning, helping all pupils to achieve and progress.

What is Oracy?

Oracy is the combination of learning to talk and learning through talk; the ability to discuss, to question; to articulate ideas, or present to an audience; to verbally communicate effectively.

All pupils in S1 cover an introduction to Oracy in Clan to help them better understand the roll of groupwork and discussion, and to then engage more effectively with PBL protocols. Oracy skills also have a wider impact on all other areas of learning.

Teacher training and professional development facilitated by The Wood Foundation through our Excelerate partnership is delivered by Oracy Cambridge with further research and resources from Voice21