Project Based Learning

Project Based Learning is a teaching method for the 21^st century. PBL is in essence student directed learning. The teacher acts as a guide; the students are driving the project.

Student Driven

The teacher begins with an idea. He or she introduces a topic, based on the state standards, and facilitates a discussion. The goal is for the students to have an idea of their project by the end of the discussion. The students choose their topic and research it. They might work as a group or individually. The point of the project is it is student driven. The teacher gives some guidelines and feedback, but the student decides on the course of action.

21^st Century Skills

The students develop and use 21^st century skills during the project. They are developing critical thinking skills and learning to collaborate with others. They learn to self-manage. These are all qualities needed to be college ready and needed for today’s workplace.  

Driving Question

The project begins with an engaging challenge or a question with real world applications. This will be the thesis or the driving question of the project. The teacher can begin with a discussion using an open-ended question. Have the students brain storm the question and discuss a variety of solutions. The students can then narrow down the subject and determine the direction they wish to take.

Inquiry and Innovation

The students then research their topic. They might interview experts, find resources in the library, explore resources on the internet, or visiting a site. The students are now detectives following a trail. Sometimes the trail will lead to a dead end and they need to step back and look at it again which leads us to the next step.

Revision and Feedback

Not all parts of the research will work. The students need to use their critical thinking skills and decide what works and what doesn’t. They need to collaborate with other students to work out ideas. They need to seek advice from their teacher, peers, or experts in the subject. The students need to reflect on their work. Before one workshop session, the teacher might want to lead a short discussion asking the students to reflect on how their research is going? What is working? What is not working? Besides reflecting on the process of the research, they should also reflect on the research itself. What have they found fascinating about the topic? With reflection and feedback during the discussion, the students will be able to understand more of what they are doing and learning.  

Going Public

The final result of the project should not stay between the teacher and the student. It needs to be seen publicly. This gives a feeling of authenticity to the project and encourages better work. A public showing of the work emphasizes a learning community. The students can teach their peers about their subject and they can share their project with parents. The class might have worked on a city issue. They can invite a city official in to see their presentation.

Resources on Project Based Learning

Three great blog posts on project based learning are  Gold Standard PBL, How Does Project Based Learning Work? and Seven Essentials for PBL.

This video explains the steps of PBL.

Helping the Teacher Plan

As I plan a project based learning activity, I am never sure I have covered all the elements. On the Buck Institute for Education website, I found a  checklist to ensure I have all the essential elements of a PBL activity. The checklist is downloadable as a PDF. Now, I have it on my computer to print as I need it. As I develop the activity, I can look at the checklist and ask: Do I have a driving question? Is this project authentic? As I go down the list, I know what needs to be addressed. As I become more of an expert at PBL, I won’t need a checklist. But, at this point, I am a novice. 

Project Based Frameworks

PBL can be used cross curricula. Researchers in Michigan used PBL to combine literacy and social studies. By studying classes that used PBL and those that didn’t, the researchers found that the students in classes using PBL scored higher on the end of the year tests. They found that combining the curricula into PBL groups, the students were more engaged, seeing the connection between what they do and what they are learning. The students are in 2^nd grade and are learning critical thinking. Project Based Learning is not just for older students. 

Project Based Learning Ideas

Students in this first grade class take an idea from a story and create a science lesson.

Charles Drew Charter School takes one PBL project each quarter that covers all subjects in the school.