John Dewey, a leader in education, conveyed that learning should not be just the acquisition of a rote set of skills. He believed learning should be “the realization of one’s full potential and the ability to use those skills for the greater good.”
Project-Based Learning (PBL) provides an educational environment that creates meaningful contexts to apply both academic and success skills that embrace the application of caring about – and for – the greater good.
There are a variety of definitions and explanations pertaining to PBL. For schools or districts that do not already have a framework in place, there is the BIE Gold Standard Project Based Learning Model, which can be used for both designing project-based curriculum and developing and implementing project-based instruction.
Learn the eight BIE Gold Standard PBL essential project design elements:
- Key Knowledge, Understanding, and Success Skills: The project is focused on student learning goals, including standards-based content and skills such as critical thinking/problem solving, collaboration, and self-management.• Key Knowledge, Understanding, and Success Skills: The project is focused on student learning goals, including standards-based content and skills such as critical thinking/problem solving, collaboration, and self-management.
- Challenging Problem or Question: The project is framed by a meaningful problem to solve or a question to answer, at the appropriate level of challenge.
- Sustained Inquiry: Students engage in a rigorous, extended process of asking questions, finding resources, and applying information.
- Authenticity: The project features real-world context, tasks and tools, quality standards, or impact – or speaks to students’ personal concerns, interests, and issues in their lives.
- Student Voice & Choice: Students make some decisions about the project, including how they work and what they create.
- Reflection: Students and teachers reflect on learning, the effectiveness of their inquiry and project activities, the quality of student work, obstacles, and how to overcome them.
- Critique and Revision: Students give, receive, and use feedback to improve their process and products.
- Public Product: Students make their project work public by explaining, displaying, and/or presenting itto people beyond the classroom.