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First in a two-part series for Edutopia, this post looks at entry events in PBL (check out the video from Manor New Tech HS to see a good one in action). Part 2 looks at the other bookend: culminating events.

Project-based learning offers a host of benefits to youth during the academic day, but active learning doesn't have to stop when school's out. A new movement is underway to encourage PBL during summer vacations and after-school hours. Making PBL part of out-of-school time gives youth new opportunities to become leaders, thinkers, and problem-solvers.

I recently spent three days with about 25 educators gathered for a Foundations of Innovation workshop in Detroit. This post describes a few take-aways. The experience has me thinking about differences/distinctions between PBL and design thinking.

Resources for projects relating to 9/11 anniversary in which students examine artifacts, conduct oral histories, and think critically about media.

students in hawaii use technology

Anyone who wonders whether project-based learning can deliver rigorous, meaningful learning should pay attention to the lessons that emerged from a remarkable project called Dots in Blue Water.

This project is an awesome example of how far students can go with real-world challenges. And it all started because a teacher was wise enough to take a student's question seriously.

Emotion researcher Richard Davidson says that cognition and emotion work together in a seamless, integrated way to help us persevere in a task. Thus, to teach grit effectively, educators need to help students cultivate both cognitive and emotional skills. Here are some research-based ideas for doing both.

"I travel with a heavy suitcase. Over my 35-year career as a public school teacher and educator at Expeditionary Learning, I have been obsessed with collecting student work of remarkable quality and value. I bring this work with me whenever I visit schools or present at conferences and workshops, because otherwise no one would believe me when I describe it."

"I wrote a blog about one of the pitfalls of personalization for the ASCD Whole Child Blog. Specifically, that pitfall is the lack of engagement. With all the focus on personalization through time, pacing, and place, it can be easy to forget about the importance of engagement. No matter where students learn, when they learn, and the timing of the learning, engagement drives them to learn. When we factor all the pieces of personalization together, we can truly meet students where they are and set them on a path of learning that truly meets their needs and desires. Project-based learning can be an effective engagement framework to engage students in personalized learning."

"Well-designed project-based learning (PBL) has been shown to result in deeper learning and engaged, self-directed learners. Learn more about the five core elements of successful PBL. "

"Students are more engaged when learning relates directly to the world they live in. See how to extend your projects beyond the classroom walls."

"Project-based learning doesn't mean leaving standards behind. Follow these tips to plan projects that challenge your students and align with core learning goals. "

Research shows the efficacy of an authentic form of education that expects students to immerse themselves in a topic and meaningfully demonstrate acquisition of skills and knowledge.

"PBL provides a unique opportunity to help students practice critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. Learn how to optimize the environment for teamwork in your classroom."

"When they are directly involved in planning and steering projects, students are more invested in their learning. Get ideas for empowering your students to work independently."

"Educators and researchers share their views on why project-based learning is an important learning strategy for classrooms."