What is Project-Based Learning? Project-based learning (PBL) activities present an engaging question, task, or problem that students then explore through authentic, real-world experiences. The goal is to teach students academic content while they are working in small, collaborative teams. Many PBL activities can also be designed
This is an excerpt from Edutopia blogger, Dr. Monica Burns’ book #FormativeTech: Meaningful, Sustainable, and Scalable Formative Assessment with Technology (Corwin, 2017). As educators, we know students need opportunities to apply what they’ve learned in meaningful, authentic ways. When long-term projects are designed with this goal
We aren’t in the business of preparing our students to take tests for the rest of their lives. We aren’t in the business of helping our students learn to navigate school as the end-all, be-all model of life’s journey. Nope. As Jeff Wilhelm reminds us
Should PBL be the main course or the dessert? A long-standing axiom of PBL is that the placement of the methodology is critical to enabling students to learn content and skills at high levels and to emulate the "real world." PBL promotes authenticity by giving students the opportunities
Like myself, many people hear the term brain-based learning and think, “Isn’t all learning brain-based since that is what we use when we are learning?” Brain-based learning means that the brain responds and grows when presented with certain skills and activities. It is sort of
Schmoker (2007) shares a quote related to PBL that is typically held up as an example of the model teacher making the changes necessary for students to be competitive in the Unites States: He [a teacher] is always innovating. He has initiated interdisciplinary teaching, heavy use of technology, hands-on activities, and
I remember the first time I was placed in a classroom with students all on my own. I had been hired as a 7th grade teacher and it was the first day of school. A student came up and tried to give me a tissue
Meaningful projects—the ones that engage students and set the stage for deep learning—don’t happen by chance. Summer can be prime time for good project ideas to percolate. By keeping your eyes open for project possibilities, test-driving technology tools, and perhaps engaging in some do-it-yourself professional
Visible Learning Educators all over the world are buzzing about John Hattie's research on visible learning. In his research, Hattie asserts that "almost everything works" to some extent. In other words, every intervention will impact students in some way. However, only certain interventions have a significant