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What is It? Project-based learning is an instructional strategy in which students work cooperatively over time to create a product, presentation, or performance. The two essential components of project-based learning are an engaging and motivating question and a product that meaningfully addresses that question.

This study compared 7th and 8th graders' achievement between groups of students who engaged in project-based learning with those who did not. This study is based on Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory, a method of experiential learning that starts with observation and reflections that leads to abstract concepts that lead to new ideas and thinking (Cervantes et al., 2015). The learning cycle, pictured below helps students learn and practice 21st-century learning skills needed for both college and career. The groups that engaged in project-based learning outperformed the groups that did not engage in PBL in both STAAR reading and math tests(Cervantes et al., 2015).

This article by Melinda Kolk, supports the same argument about the value an authentic audience can have on learning as the Monica Burns article. What I liked about Kolk's thinking that was different, was the idea of a flexible audience. Different groups may have different audiences based on the information and stakeholders the groups choose. Kolks also stressed the need for not just authentic audiences, but for authentic and real-world problems, which might influence who the audience is. The article suggests focusing on ideas that matter, work that matters, and effort that matters (Move from Projects to Project-Based Learning, 2022).

I went to the AECT.org site to see what it had about project-based learning. AECT stands for Association for Educational Communications and Technology. It is a professional organization for people interested in educational technology. I first checked out its "divisions" to see if it had one dedicated to PBL (it does not). I eventually searched the site for the term, which surprisingly only resulted a few hits. One was an interview with Dr. Krista Glazewski, who serves as the editor for Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning (IJPBL). I was curious to see if that journal would include the topic of PROJECT-based learning, and it does. The interview was informative because it talks about the three main areas this journal covers (research, conceptual pieces, and "voices from the field"). Professor Glazewski explains that it is an open access journal, committed to remaining free to contributors and readers. (the first 10 minutes was especially informative)

This site has an abundance of resources for incorporating PBL into math.

On the Wikipedia website about PBL it says that teaching math using PBL is one of the controversial topics because math is a skill-based subject. As a math teacher I was impressed with the amount of resources out there for PBL and math.

Welcome this first of a four part series intended to provide Math teachers with some outstanding PBL resources. First, to ensure you do not miss one of these valuable posts or other resources covering PBL, Digital Curriculum, Web 2.0, STEM, 21st century learning, and technology integration, please sign up for 21centuryedtech by email or RSS.

There are way too many project-based learning blogs out there to mention nowadays. It has become such a staple of modern learning. So what's a teacher to do? Great resources are everywhere on the Web. The GDCF's own Solution Fluency Activity Planner currently hosts over 20,000 users.

Checklists to support Project Based Learning and evaluation

A checklist to follow when creating a project that follows the PBL format.

Checklists to support Project Based Learning and Evaluation

This article is a good resource for understanding problem-based learning.

This article from 2007 discussed the effectiveness and implementation of different inductive teaching methods to include problem-based learning and project-based learning.

Tony Vincent's website with tips and examples of using PBL with handheld computers and devices. "Be inspired to bring project based learning into your classroom, learn strategies for creating effective driving questions, and see how an iOS handheld can play a role in the planning, research/investigation, and presentation of projects."

Three primers for project based learning: Crafting Questions That Drive Projects, Investigating Authentic Questions, and Creating Products to Show & Share Leanring.

Project-based learning continues to be misinterpreted as a single teaching strategy rather than as a set of design principles that allow us to introduce the philosophy of inquiry into education in an intelligent and grounded way.

I love this. I admit I have had the same thought ("how would a blended guru like Sal Khan feel about PBL?"), so it is really cool to see his take. Great resource for anyone tinkering with blended elements of learning alongside our little PBL adventure!

This blog posting contains a lengthy list of STEM based PBL lessons.

Interesting article.

Excellent!

Editor's Note: Today's guest blogger is Don Doehla, French teacher and instructional coach at Vintage High School in Napa, California. Don recently stepped up to become the new facilitator of our World Languages group. He's got some great ideas for teaching world languages, including the use of project-based learning.