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Problem-based learning (PBL) is an exciting way to learn biology and is readily incorporated into large classes in a lecture hall environment. PBL engages students in solving authentic biological case problems, stimulating discussion among students and reinforcing learning. A problem-based learning environment emulates the workplace and develops self-directed learners. This is preferable to a mimetic learning environment in which students only watch, memorize, and repeat what they have been told. The examples given here are suitable for use in a first year college biology lecture theater, but the method is applicable to any class size and educational level. [A more detailed explanation of PBL in Biology may be found in Chapter Four of INSPIRING STUDENTS, published in 1999 by Kogan Page.]

 This session will showcase several PBL lessons and units that incorporate multiple Common Instructional Framework Strategies and authentic inquiry experiences in order to facilitate mastery of science concepts.  

wiki with examples of PBL projects across content areas

CASES Online is a collection of inquiry-based lessons to engage K-12 and undergraduate students in exploring the science behind real-world problems. Through CASES, you can transform your students into motivated investigators, self-directed and life-long learners, critical thinkers and keen problem solvers. Our cases are grounded in Problem-Based Learning (PBL), Investigative Case-Based Learning (ICBL), and related student-centered pedagogies.

PBL units for variety of topics

The backbone of New Tech High's unique learning environment is project-based learning (PBL). Instead of handing out daily assignments, teachers assign periodic projects that require critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication.

STEM PBL cases for purchase from Wake Forest School of Medicine.  HS topics tagged.

pdf outlining PBLs and sample projects for Health care careers

The PBL Clearinghouse contains problems from a wide variety of disciplines. As the problems and supporting materials are covered by the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, you are welcome to borrow and adapt these problems for your classroom. Because these files are open sourced, your students may search and discover the teaching notes and solutions. We encourage you to make changes, adapt the problems to your specific goals and classroom contexts and thereby discourage your students from "borrowing" solutions or otherwise circumventing your instructional goals.

Variety of Biology resources from teacher site. Includes PBL and IB resources.

What do we care most about? We care about social collaboration, immersing students in investigations of science phenomena, developing artifacts that demonstrate rigorous learning, and then presenting those artifacts for community use.

If you were limited to choosing only three crops to sustainably farm in an arid, inhospitable environment, what would they be and how would you decide? This interrupted case study places students in the role of a proposed self-sufficient Martian colony that requires an optimized profile of food crops. After students form small groups, they discuss the factors that affect sustainability of a food supply, determine criteria for selection of crops to grow, and rank crops using these criteria. Lists of criteria and of foodstuffs are provided, but the case can easily be transformed into a problem-based learning (PBL) case by having students research and generate their own lists. The case includes questions that walk students through the selection process and require them to explain why they chose their criteria and how those criteria apply to their chosen foods. The case is designed for undergraduate students at the introductory level in courses in astronomy/astrobiology, food science/nutrition, agricultural engineering, or any discipline where sustainability is a key theme.

In March 2005 High Tech High received a $250,000 grant from the California Department of Education to disseminate project-based learning methods to teachers in non-charter public schools. As part of the project, High Tech High teachers have documented successful projects to share with collaborating teachers from local districts and across the HTH network. The current volume presents the fruits of these labors. The aim is simple: to offer practitioners useful, easily adaptable models of real projects.

The next slide displays two versions of the same group presentation. Click the differing elements in either version, then read an explanation of how the improved element contributes to a better presentation.

Guideline for planning projects, illustrated with an ecology example.

list of 50 ideas which could be readily modified for STEM topics

Variety of sample rubrics

The projects you will find here have been curated by BIE and were gathered from online project libraries. These projects are meant to inspire your own ideas or may be adapted to fit the needs of your classroom.

Information is easily accessible for teachers, administrators, parents and students. Standards-based units, lesson plans, instructional guides and project based learning designs model the integration of content, learning skills and technology standards, research-based instructional strategies, differentiated instruction and rich classroom assessments, including a culminating performance, product or project with an accompanying rubric.

interesting approach to evolution