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"What is it? Here's an article by BIE, updated from its original appearance in the September 2010 issue of Educational Leadership magazine from ASCD. Good for general audiences as well as educators, it explains the essential elements that make rigorous PBL different from "doing projects." Why do we like it? This article was written because some teachers say they "do projects" already (so why learn more about PBL) and some educators and members of the general public may have negative stereotypes of PBL as merely a "fun" or "hands-on" activity. How can you use it? Share this article with anyone, from teachers to parents to administrators, to explain PBL and provide a common framework for projects. The 8 Essential Elements are the basis of BIE's Project Design Rubric and PBL 101 Workshop."

Just getting started with project-based learning (PBL)? Our curated list of resources for educators new to PBL should help you. Before you get started, be sure to check out Edutopia's PBL page, including information about the research behind effective PBL practices. You can also connect with Edutopia's community to learn and share PBL tips.

Project-based learning (PBL) demands excellent assessment practices to ensure that all learners are supported in the learning process. With good assessment practices, PBL can create a culture of excellence for all students. We've compiled some of the best resources from Edutopia and the web to support your use of assessment in PBL, including information about strategies, advice on how to address the demands of standardized tests, and summaries of the research.

When people ask about the inspiration for our style of videos, I often say that our videos reflect the way that I wish I had learned in school. My learning style wasn't a good match for the way I was taught. Recently we completed a custom video project with the Buck Institute for Education (BIE) that focuses on a Project Based Learning or "PBL", and boy did it open my eyes. I can now see that I needed teachers who put PBL to work. I needed to get up from my desk and engage. I needed to work on a real-world issue and use creativity and problem solving - what are known as 21st century skills these days. This video is an introduction to PBL and how it impacted a science teacher's students and helped their community.

PBL does not focus on stale memorization of boring textbooks, but motivates students to investigate from a multitude of sources just like historians, writers, and scientists do. On top of these skills though PBL is also about DOING. It is not enough for students to be passive about learning but to be actively involved taking it much deeper. PBL is much more like actual jobs than the traditional classroom is.

New online tutorial on PBL basics from Buck Institute. You can also submit a project plan and ask for critical feedback.

We have developed this Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Tutorial based on our PBL Toolkit books and highlights from our PBL 101 Workshop. This tutorial provides easy to read & watch, to-the-point advice about designing your project and some tools to help you do it well.

You are about to discover some amazing ways you can amplify your PBL experience in the 1 to 1 classroom. This workshop has been designed to meet the needs across the multiple device classrooms that are found all across the educational setting. For this reason there will be a lot of emphasis on pedagogy and integration of the tools in PBL. Because of the wide range of devices there will not be an emphasis on any one device. Please enjoy our journey into creating that One to One classroom that allows technology to transparently bring together the student centered learning, editing engagement, and authentic learning that Project Based Learning makes possible. Remember that there is so much wisdom in the crowd and this workshop has been designed for all of us to learn from each other. Please enjoy the journey!

"While I agree all are important, I feel the most important factor in good PBL is a great driving question. If you find the right questions then most of the other factors identified are covered automatically. How do you generate a great question and who is the right person to generate that question?"

While I agree all are important, I feel the most important factor in good PBL is a great driving question. If you find the right questions then most of the other factors identified are covered automatically. How do you generate a great question and who is the right person to generate that question?

"What boosts PBL from a fun and engaging exercise to a rigorous and powerful real-world learning experience? Researchers have identified four key components that are critical to teaching successfully with PBL (Barron & Darling-Hammond, 2008; Ertmer & Simons, 2005; Mergendoller & Thomas, 2005; Hung, 2008). All of these play a role in the curriculum-design process."

It's a practical guide to building 21st century-student competency in the "4 C's" - critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity/innovation. The book is designed for middle school and high school teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders. It also shows how the 4 C's in a PBL context align with the Common Core State Standards. Sample projects, CCSS-aligned 4 C's rubrics, tips for technology in projects, notes for school leaders on building support for 21st century learning with PBL. Authors: Suzie Boss, author and BIE National Faculty, and John Larmer, Editor-in-Chief, BIE

"Last month we released Projects for all our education wikis. Our intention was to give you a better tool for group work, but, as many of you have pointed out, they're also great for project-based learning. Project-based learning, or PBL, grew out of early 20th century education reform, like the works of John Dewey. It generally involves directed, open-ended questions, real-life problem solving, and presentation to an authentic audience. And, of course, it's a great way for students to build collaboration and 21st-century skills while mastering content. We're really looking forward to hearing how you use PBL and the Projects feature in your classrooms. We're so excited, in fact, that we rounded up a few resources from around the web to help you out:"

Good new post by Andrew Miller on PBL vs. projects, and other myths

Advise from PBL-online on crafting good DQs

Advise from PBL-online on crafting good DQs

"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. "

"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."

From the West Virginia Department of Education. As they say: "Many people have requested a source for the management tools that are used in the Project Based Learning plans on Teach 21. Here is the place. You will find rubrics, checklists, task management charts, learning logs and other documents that will help your PBL planning and delivery."

A very nice Prezi on PBL

A very nice Prezi on PBL

nice table of PBL core values and write up about PBL in Science.

Background, theory and ideas for PBL

Five classroom PBL projects