Project Based Learning

Project Based Learning

What is PBL?

In Project Based Learning (PBL), students go through an extended process of inquiry in response to a complex question, problem, or challenge. While allowing for some degree of student "voice and choice," rigorous projects are carefully planned, managed, and assessed to help students learn key academic content, practice 21st Century Skills (such as collaboration, communication & critical thinking), and create high-quality, authentic products & presentations.

Why use PBL?

Students gain a deeper understanding of the concepts and standards at the heart of a project. Projects also build vital workplace skills and lifelong habits of learning. Projects can allow students to address community issues, explore careers, interact with adult mentors, use technology, and present their work to audiences beyond the classroom. PBL can motivate students who might otherwise find school boring or meaningless.

How is PBL used?

Some teachers use PBL extensively as their primary curriculum organizer and instructional method. Others use PBL occasionally during a school year. Projects vary in length, from several days to several weeks or even a semester. PBL can be effective at all grade levels and subjects, and in career/technical education, afterschool and alternative programs.

Benefits of project-based learning for students:

		Greater control over what and how they learn – Teachers set parameters for each project and the students are free to propose their own ideas, pending their teacher’s approval.
		A sense of educational ownership – Because they have greater control over what and how they learn, students often feel more invested and responsible for their work. Project-based learning also makes it easier for students to learn at a pace that’s comfortable for them.
		Acquisition of complex, real-world skills – Project-based learning teaches students about teamwork, critical thinking, communication, decision-making, time management, public speaking, organization, social behavior and more.
		An audience with their teachers – The traditional classroom lecture model is all about listening. The teacher lectures and the students absorb. A key advantage of project-based learning is that each student has more one-on-one time with their instructors to ask questions and share ideas.
		Hands-on, “fun” learning – Project-based learning requires a level of participation not seen in the traditional classroom, giving students a higher level of stimulation and a greater role in the educational process.
		Project portfolios that go beyond paper – Whether it’s made up of videos, products, photographs, multimedia presentations, books, gadgets or, yes, paper, project portfolios are the end result of years of project-based learning. Students can easily show off their hard work. And with tools like portfolios are maintained online and can be securely distributed with the click of a button.

Benefits of project-based learning for teachers:

		Greater student interaction – Traditional classroom learning involves a teacher more or less speaking to his or her students with little interaction other than to ask or answer a periodic question. Project-based learning puts the teacher into more of a facilitator role that allows for greater dialogue with each individual student.
		Insight into student motivators – With each new project that’s proposed and presented, teachers receive a glimpse into the interests, passions and motivators of their students. Everything about a given project – the topic that’s selected, how it’s presented, how students works with others, where they pull their research from – gives teachers crucial information about the learning habits of their class.
		No longer an army of one – The assessment process in a project-based learning setting usually involves more than just the opinion of the teacher and often times includes other instructors and even peers of the student. intuitive, web-based project-management tool gives teachers an easy way to manage all of that feedback so that it can be best absorbed by them and their students.
		Going beyond the classroom – Another benefit of project-based learning is the ability to draw in resources from the entire school and even the community. Learning is no longer confined to the walls of the classroom, but rather is conducted on a more boundaryless scale, giving teachers an even greater pool of assets to work with.