Digital Age PBL

Project Idea: Your catering company is bidding on a job to plan a birthday party for a 13-year old.Given a budget of $250, you will submit a party proposal for 30 guests that includes a budget spreadsheet, written description of party and events, menu, map of room, and an oral presentation.

Students work together on research and concept development. Each group submits a minimum of 10 detailed thumbnails for the print advertisement to the teacher, who helps choose a concept for the entire campaign. Each group generates original content (headline and narrative) and imagery (photographs, illustrations).

Essential Question(s): Why do editors assemble film a certain way? What kind of mood can be created with editing choices? How does music affect an edited piece of video? Short Description: Students create music videos using time lapse photography and video.

Studies have proven that when implemented well, project-based learning (PBL) can increase retention of content and improve students' attitudes towards learning, among other benefits. Edutopia's PBL research review explores the vast body of research on the topic and helps make sense of the results.

In this blog post, a high school teacher reflects on her experience with PBL.

This article provides another overview of PBL with some research supporting the use of PBL in schools.

"In this new column, Jane L. David shares with readers what research says about the effectiveness of current education reforms."

Zoë Randall, Multi-Media, High Tech Middle Media Arts download pdf Students created digital stories about a defining moment, a message, or a lesson learned from their own lives or the life of someone they know. Through writing, storyboarding, and multiple cycles of critique, students developed their stories and hopefully discovered something new about themselves and others in the process.

While searching for PBL examples I came across this project that I think will be really useful in designing future PBL's in my Marketing class. It's on designing a magazine cover to attract target audiences!

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 article from BIE explains what makes a gold standard Project Design. Because so many teachers have adopted PBL, the Buck Institute decided to define a specific standard for PBL because many projects have been substandard.

On this page there are a variety of rubrics for evaluating PBL.

This looks to be a good resource for K-12 inquiry-based projects that focus primarily on math and science (though there are connections to social studies and language arts). It is searchable by grade and subject.

This is slightly off-center for PBL, but the students love combining simulations with project-based, and this is a really fun way to do it.

Can Immigrants Work? Great way to introduce an element of debate to 5th graders.

includes an element of art/creativity

Title Get Your Heads In the Clouds! Project Idea

At TeachThought, we're huge fans of project-based learning. While there is no magic bullet of practice, program, or framework that automatically produces progressive and effective learning, what makes project-based learning exceptional is its flexibility. As it is, first and foremost, simply a curriculum planning tool, so much other "good stuff" that can support learning (game-based learning, learning simulations, place-based education, self-directed learning, etc.)

Choosing an end product with project-based learning can be challenging due to the sheer number of possibilities. To encourage high-level products, it is benificial to know your students' interests and learning styles. We thought it would be helpful to some to jump start the creative process by listing a few project-based learning ideas that we've seen put into action.