Exemplary Projects for
Project-Based Learning (PBL)
Our goal for this project is to provide
the motivation and support for teachers to get involved with Project-Based
Learning (PBL) approaches to student learning. Why? Because research has
shown, and teachers who use PBL agree - one of the most interesting,
efficient, and meaningful ways to cover the curriculum, teach the standards,
and address individual learning styles is through the use of integrated,
authentic, projects.
On this site, we have focused our primary attention on projects and PBL
for the late elementary and middle school grades (grades 5-8), but all teachers
will find projects and information to help them implement great PBL in their
classrooms. We want to especially help and support those teachers who are
new to PBL, or who have limited experience doing PBL in their classrooms.
In this light, we believe teachers initially need a small, focused set
of 'exemplary' projects, representing the best practices of other teachers
who use this approach and covering a broad spectrum of standards-based content
and technology and skills. These projects include step-by-step instruction
and examples for how to proceed and are built around themes, issues, and
concerns that are real to middle level students. Although these projects
integrate technology into the curriculum, they also allow teachers and students
the freedom to scale-up (or -down) according to the technology skills they
have or want to acquire.
These exemplary projects were nominated and selected
by an outstanding panel of experts, researchers, and experienced PBL teachers
and practitioners. We chose these specific projects because they:
are accessible to both novice and more experienced PBL teachers
demonstrate high levels of student content learning and achievement
AND lifeskills, collaboration, and technology skills (such as SCANS
and Career Know-How skills)
provide teachers with an in-depth view of how PBL works (both
the process and the products)
can be assessed through a variety of measures, which are included
as integral parts of the projects themselves
are free (or require minimal or readily available material
and technology resources)
We invite all teachers to try the projects in this "master
list"-and to reflect on and pay careful attention to how these projects
help their students achieve high levels of learning (both in content and
skills from their curriculum, as well as in the SCANS "know how" skills
needed for work in our global knowledge economy).
We also invite you to contact us and tell us what you
think about this site, pass along projects you have done, inquire about
resources, or ask us about projects you would like to do.
The ultimate project-based learning is when students
create their own projects, including the content. research and project
structures that really interest and engage them. In this case, the world
and the universe are the curriculum-and projects and technology are tools
for inquiry, exploration, creativity, and understanding.
