An excellent overview describing what the TIM is and how to use it.

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).

This article from Edutopia, written by Monica Burns, shares the value of having an authentic audience with project- based learning. An authentic audience gives purpose to the work by placing it in the real world with real people interacting with their creations. Different audiences can be selected based on the content and the goal of the learning. Audiences can vary from students in the school, other schools, or members of the community.

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).

Social Studies PBL in 5 Steps: 1. Create a question for students to answer. 2. Give students time to research. 3. Have students organize and visualize their research. 4. Have students create their stories. 5. Students share their projects.

Social Studies PBL in 5 Steps: 1. Create a question for students to answer. 2. Give students time to research. 3. Have students organize and visualize their research. 4. Have students create their stories. 5. Students share their projects.