Project based learning (PBL) is already well established as an increasingly utilized classroom management methodology in the elementary and secondary schools throughout southeast Indiana. Currently, 247 K-12 teachers, representing 100% of public school districts and 25% of private schools in the region, are trained in PBL and employing it to some extent in their classrooms. This PBL regional community, already the largest in the nation, will grow by at least another 130 teachers after the upcoming summer professional development workshops.

As PBL continues to expand and prosper in SE Indiana, EcO15, in partnership with the Division of Education and the Center for Teaching Learning of IUPUC, have several initiatives underway that will further strengthen this movement:

• PBL Coaches─ In this initial year, thirteen coaches are providing 'customized' services to six school or districts throughout the region - Bartholomew Consolidated, Seymour Schools, Madison Middle School, Switzerland County elementary schools, Lawrenceburg Schools, and Jac-Cen-Del Schools. These services vary from general introductions to PBL to focused mentoring of individual teachers.  
•  PBL Academy─ The final workshop of the 2011-12 PBL Academy will be held at CSA New Tech High School on April 21st. During this full day event, the 180+ participants in last year's program will share with their group (defined by grade level and subject area) their experiences in facilitating their second semester projects. In the afternoon, a "gallery walk" will be held during which teachers will have the opportunity to 'show off' to the other participants the projects that they developed and delivered this past year. 
   

The initial event of the 2012-13 PBL Academy will be held during the middle two weeks of June - June 11-15 at CSA New Tech High School in Columbus and June 18-22 at Jac-Cen-Del High School in Osgood. The current total of 185 registrants is divided evenly between the two locations. The estimate is that, by June, there will be a total of 220-225 teachers enrolled. Currently, 47% of the registrants teach at the elementary level, and the huge majority (93%) are from our SE Indiana region. Certain to win the 'traveled furthest' award is an enrolled teacher from South Africa. . . . . .  

• Advanced PBL Workshops─ For experienced PBL teachers, we will hold at least two pilot workshops that will enable PBL practitioners to work directly with industry experts on the development of interesting projects for the classroom. July 16-18 a space research workshop led by Brian Tanner of Spaceport Indiana and Dr. Jill Robinson of the Indiana University Department of Chemistry will be held at the AMCE in Columbus. July 24-26 Bob Sexton, engineering and technology teacher at Seymour High School, and Dr. Leslie Gardner of the University of Indianapolis Schools of Business and Mathematics, along with representatives of Aisin Drivetrain of Crothersville and the Cummins Seymour Engine Plant, will hold a workshop at the Aisin USA plant in Seymour. A third workshop to be led by a team from the Indy Car industry is also in the works, potentially to be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  
• State-wide PBL Infrastructure─ In partnership with the sponsors of the PBL Institute, a PBL teacher development program held annually in Indianapolis (Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL), IUPUI School of Education, and Wayne Township Schools), we are working on two important initiatives that we believe are necessary for the continued success of our respective programs as well as for the expansion of PBL throughout the state of Indiana. A group of PBL teacher-leaders selected from our two programs is finalizing a PBL teacher 'certification' process which they developed. The purpose of this certification will be to demonstrate experience and competency in utilizing the PBL classroom management model. Also, on April 25th our two groups (along with the Talent Initiative PBL program in NE Indiana) will convene a meeting to initiate development of a consistent and comprehensive PBL results evaluation process.  

After three and a half years, EcO15 has been very successful in establishing resources at secondary and post-secondary schools throughout SE Indiana to expand the awareness and preparedness of students for the good advanced manufacturing jobs increasingly available in our region. The next necessary steps in the evolution of a growing and sustainable population of people capable and ready for these jobs are:

• to develop an strong, integrated flow of STEM-prepared students from secondary schools to post-secondary programs;
• and to integrate the involvement of manufacturers in this process to ensure that the students are motivated and are being prepared with the necessary skills. 

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The Graduation Coaches Program continues to make solid progress, with members of its core team meeting at least weekly in preperation for a program launch in August.

The Program has also identified and recruited an Advisory Committee consisting of senior representatives from both school corporations, IUPUC, Ivy Tech, Columbus Regional Health, United Way, Bartholomew County Court Services (Juvenile Probation), Cummins, and the Community Education Coalition itself. With assistance from the school corporations, it is envisioned that student representatives will be added to the Committee once the program is launched and student advisory committees could be formed in each of the high schools. The Advisory Committee had its inaugural meeting on March 14th and is scheduled to meet quarterly.