Why the First Week Should Be a Project, Not a PowerPoint - TEC63

Let’s cut the fluff—death-by-slideshow is not the way to start your school year. In this solo episode, Dan breaks down why you should ditch the rules-and-procedures lecture and how to launch your year with a small, high-impact Project-Based Learning (PBL) activity that sets the tone for real engagement.Forget the “All About Me” coloring sheets. Instead, empower your students to fix a real problem, co-create the classroom culture, and build something that matters.Dan shares:3 reasons why starting the year with PBL is a game-changer3 easy starter project ideas you can run in any classA cheat sheet for making it work with no budget and little prepA challenge for you to compare two classes—one with PBL, one with slides—and see the differenceCulture > Rules: Start with habits, inquiry, and ownership instead of a contract.Small Projects, Big Impact: You only need cardboard, curiosity, and a problem worth solving.Make It Personal: Projects like “Fix Something at School,” “Redesign the Rules,” and “Solve a Personal Problem” help students feel heard and valued from day one.Skip the Grade: The reflection is the assessment. Ask: What did you learn? What would you change?“Don’t tell them this class is different—prove it. Let them build something. That’s how you earn buy-in.”Curipod for anonymous, interactive student inputCoachThomasTech.com – for blog posts, PBL ideas, and contact infoLEGO, craft materials, markers, cardboard—whatever you’ve got on handTry a mini PBL project this week and tag Dan on social media @coachthomastech. Whether you fix the pencil problem or redesign the rules, share what your students create.Want help brainstorming a PBL kickoff for your class or school? Reach out to Dan directly at coachthomastech.com or message him on Twitter/X.