PLEASE NOTE: This website is no longer updated,

please go to our new website at

www.PBLschool.com

(click the above link to go there now)

	An addition to our name to reflect the new direction of Olander Elementary School, our new name is now... Olander School for Project Based Learning Olander elementary is in its third year of integrating Project Based Learning into our school program. As a staff and parent community, we believe adding Project Based Learning to our name will solidify Olander as a school on the cutting edge of education reform.  A name change will formalize Olander's pioneering role in developing PBL as a unique program that is available to parents and students within the Fort Collins community. We believe recognizing PBL as central to our school program will also open opportunities for grants and additional community resources as well as attracting high quality staff to further enhance the educational experience in the Poudre School District. Welcome to Olander Elementary School!          ...nurturing the mind, body and heart of every child History of Project Based Learning (PBL) The roots of PBL lie in the long-standing education philosophy that students learn best through experiential, hands-on, and student directed learning experiences. Utilization of PBL has exploded over the last 25 years for many reasons. One reason is that the current research indicates that students need to construct knowledge through engaging and rich learning experiences. Another reason is that educators are becoming increasingly aware that high school graduates will be entering a global economy in which both knowledge and integrated skills are required to succeed. In other words, students will need to be able to plan, collaborate, think critically, solve problems, and communicate effectively to be successful. These skills will apply whether students go directly into the workforce or into an institution of higher education. These 21st Century Skills are central to project based learning and reflect the world in which children now live. What is PBL? Although there is no one definition of PBL, the Buck Institute for Education defines PBL as "a systematic teaching method that engages students in learning knowledge and skills through an extended inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully defined products and tasks." More simply stated, PBL is "learning by doing." In a classroom where students are involved in outstanding project work, students are put into a "students-as-workers" setting. This includes engaging in critical thinking, written and oral communication, creativity, current technologies, and long range planning to move a project forward. Another essential compontent of an excellent project is collaborating with community professionals so that students can benefit from mentors with "real world" experience. Name Change Files... Olander_Re_Naming_Document.doc (39 KB) School_Board_Presentation_Cover_Page.ppt (67 KB) School_Board_Presentation.ppt (3.7 MB) Scope_and_Sequencing.ppt (78 KB) More information on PBL Mr. Brian Olver, Principal  (bolver@psdschools.org) Phone:    970-488-8410    Attendance Line:    970-488-8411 3401 Auntie Stone St.                             Fort Collins, CO 80526 (fax 488-8412) Olander's Mission is to teach children to communicate effectively, to solve problems, to understand and cooperate with others, to appreciate and care for the world in which they live, and to be lifelong learners Olander's culture is founded on a love of learning and caring for children. Mutual respect, personal responsibility, safety and "doing your best" are cornerstones of our school. Clear expectations and "love and logic" discipline create a positive, safe learning atmosphere. Don't forget to join our email list to stay up to date at with all the happenings here at Olander. Join Now