PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

Real-World Connection

Authentic problem that drives the curriculum

- Anchor the unit with a driving/authentic question
- Students choose different paths to explore that question
- connect with your community, bring experts in
- get kids out into the community
- use technology to connect with professionals (Skype, email,

Core to Learning

telephone)
Its the meat of the curriculum, not fluff at the end of the
unit
- start with your standards (backwards design)
- create final exam
- make the project anchor the standards

Structured Collaboration

- map your unit to higher-order thinking skills

Allowing students to work together, but giving them a
structure within
- teach the kids how best to work together (expectations)
- Offer tools to help kids manage time and tasks (roles &
responsibilities)
- teach students how to use each other (accountable talk)
- Use tabletop directions to keep kids focused (task card,
directions, check list)
- Facilitate learning by moving among groups

Student Driven

- Very carefully scaffold

Students take on the role & teacher becomes the facilitator
(ask good questions, redirect when necessary, give hints not
answers)
- gives students voice & choice in the process
- let the students seek answers independently
- make time for reflection and revision
- engage in discussion with their peers

Multifaceted

- have students track their own progress

Assessment being integrated throughout the entire PBL unit

Assessment

- build assessment into the project flow

- Formative assessments small check-ins (thumbs up)
- build in chances for self & group assessment
- end project with a product or performance
- present work to an audience beyond the class