What is Project-Based Learning?

Project-based learning is a teaching method where students learn and gain skills through more extensive lessons that take place over a period of time. Students investigate and respond to authentic, meaningful, engaging, and complex questions. These lessons often portray real life situations and work to solve real-world problems. At the end of the project, oftentimes students have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge by sharing their project with the public or in front of their peers.

How Does Project-Based Learning Impact Student Engagement?

Project based learning positively impacts student engagement for many reasons. For starters, students take an active role in their learning. During a project, students have to communicate with each other and with the teacher as they plan how they will execute their work. Students need to ask questions, participate in discussions, and engage in experiments. Students are held accountable for their role in the project, whether they are in a big or small group. When it comes to student involvement, hiding behind a worksheet is easy; needing to follow through with a project is much more transparent.

Why do Project-Based Lesson Plans Work Well for Remote Learning?

Project-based lesson plans are not just for students in the classroom. Project-based lesson plans work very well for students who are remote learning too. It gives remote students an activity to do that does not necessarily evolve around the computer. It gets the students up and moving, searching for material and supplies, talking to people in their family or members of the community. It doesn’t limit students to the four walls of their classroom, but wherever it is they are able to go while they are distance learning. Below are several ideas for project-based learning that can be done in the classroom or easily adjusted to be completed during distance learning.         

Project-Based Learning Ideas to Try with Your Students

Book Study

This project-based lesson idea would be suitable for most all ages. Have the students choose a book they are interested in. Depending on the unit of study, you can require any genre or topic of book (non-fiction, fiction, historical fiction, animals, people, etc). Have them complete their reading and then turn the book into a script. The students can act out their script in front of the class.

Rube Goldberg Project

If you haven’t heard of Rube Goldberg, now is the time to familiarize yourself! He was a famous cartoonist who took simple machines designed to make tasks easier and made them overly complex. Have students design a way to trap a mouse (think of the board game Mouse Trap). Require a designated number of steps that a ball needs to go through before it gets to the part of the machine that releases the trap. Use recycled materials, crafts supplies, or anything the students can find around their house or their school. This hands on project-based lesson is sure to be a highlight for students of many ages!

Pen Pal Schools

Another great idea for project-based learning that connects students with peers all across the country, is called Pen Pal Schools. It is a global project-based learning community where students choose a topic they are interested in (oceans, fake news, robics, immigration, etc). The website provides the essential questions, project options, guided questions, and the skills and standards that will be met throughout the course of the learning. What is really great about this format of project-based learning, is that not only do teachers not have to do as much of the heavy lifting in designing the project, but students are also not limited to others in their class that may or may not have the same interests.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

In this project, students will monitor their families’ waste over the course of one week. They will design a plan for recording this information, such as weighing the garbage or counting how many items are thrown away each day. After conducting this home inventory, they will research the effects of garbage on the environment. They will then design a plan for lowering the waste in their household. Students will communicate this plan to their families in a chosen way, such as a letter, a presentation on waste, or a video clip.

Living History

What was it like when we put a man on the moon, when the stock market crashed, or when World War 11 occurred? It is one thing to read about these events, but what if you experienced them during your lifetime? In this lesson, students will interview people who were alive during the time of a chosen historical event. They will create a project that combines the information they research along with their real life interview to more accurately and personally explain this historical event. They can turn their findings into a video trailer, a poster board, or a news broadcast. By not limiting students to one form of showing what they know, students are able to take projects such as these as far as they are capable of going.

Project-based learning helps students eliminate that question of “Why are we doing this,” and instead sheds light on real world problems and issues. It engages students with topics they are interested in and strengthens collaboration and communicate skills. Project-based learning gives students the power to take control of their learning and spend their time studying topics they are passionate about. Try out some of the above ideas with your students and see their excitement come to life.

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What are the Benefits of Interdisciplinary Studies?

Implementing interdisciplinary studies in a school setting involves the integration of two or more academic subjects. There are many benefits to interdisciplinary studies. Combining academic subjects provides a broader perspective and deeper learning experience for students and allows teachers to integrate multiple subjects into one lesson or project, enabling them to progress through curriculum faster and create richer, more meaningful learning experiences. Some reasons for why schools should embrace integrated learning are as follows:

• Students develop a better overall understanding of subject matter, including various perspectives and points of view pertaining to subject matter.
• Students exhibit an increased understanding and retention of subject matter.
• Students show an increased ability to solve problems.
• Students show increased ability to make decisions and think critically and creatively.
• Students gain a greater understanding of how to collaborate with others and be an active participant in the learning process.
• Students experience an increased motivation for learning new subject matter.

Educators and school administrators often ask “how can I best prepare my students?” While core content areas can be taught along side one another, integrating subjects can make the responsibility of preparing students more efficient for teachers and exciting for students. Integrating subjects helps students develop a meaningful understanding of associations between subject matter and topics. When coupled with project-based learning, integrating various subject matters makes school an interesting and productive place.

Why is PBL a Good Way to Promote Interdisciplinary Studies?

Project-based learning units that include multiple disciplines allow students to apply their knowledge to new situations, resulting in a deeper learning experience. PBL units and strategies challenge students to apply knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines and create new solutions to real world problems.

By using PBLs that include various disciplines, teachers can expose students to actual problems that require the use of creative thinking and collaboration. During such projects, teachers act as a facilitator and offer students constructive feedback and guidance in solving problems. PBL units lend themselves to the integration of multiple subjects.

For example, elementary school teachers can integrate reading, art, and social studies by choosing to use a Flags of the World unit. The goal of this unit is for students to better understand cultures, countries, values, and what flags around the world represent. In this unit, students are asked to research the flags of various countries, research their own cultures and family history, and to design an original flag that represents their own values and identity. While students participate in this PBL activity, they are being exposed to informational text, text features, learning about various cultures, gaining a new perspective on those that are different from them, and creating a product that demonstrates their knowledge. If teachers wish, they can participate in a pen pal portion of the unit, which would also integrate writing into the unit.

When implementing project-based learning to promote interdisciplinary studies, it is important to remember that this process may be intimidating to parents and students at first. This is especially true for students that are participating in project-based learning virtually, due to the 2020 global pandemic. Considering this, the following tips should be kept in mind to help support students and families as they participate in project-based learning.

• Give students clear expectations from the get-go.
• Explain the benefits of project-based learning, especially the opportunity it presents students to study various disciplines simultaneously.
• Explain how parents can provide support to students and explain to students how they can support each other.
• Research project ideas such as: student blogs and podcasts, recycling projects, and service learning projects.

For teachers that have not used project-based learning to integrate multiple subjects in the classroom, getting started might seem like a daunting task, but there are so many resources available. PBL Works is a website that explains the benefits of using project-based learning, offers PBL success stories, and provides research and evidence of why PBL works. The site also has various project cards that make PBL units easy to implement. Many of the project cards are free and indicate which grades and standards are addressed. Project-based learning is a great way to integrate subjects while making learning accessible, fun, and relevant.

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In junior high and high school, the focus on college and career readiness increases. Thanks to project-based learning, educators now have another tool to translate classroom experiences into the real world. If you currently don’t use project-based learning at your school or in your classroom, don’t feel overwhelmed at attempting to implement it with your students. A successful project-based learning experience requires some pre-planning on your part, but it is mostly facilitation and encouragement in the moment. Each project and each group of students will have different ideas and unique experiences, which is part of why project-based learning is so successful.

What is Project-Based Learning?

According to the Buck Institute for Education’s PBL Works, project-based learning, or PBL, is a teaching method that gives students the opportunity to learn by actively engaging in real world and personally meaningful projects. Educators pose students or groups of students with a complex task or question, and then encourage them to work on solving it for an extended period of time. PBL experiences can last for a few weeks or for the entire semester.

It’s important to distinguish that PBL experiences are different from other hands-on activities that you might plan to complement one particular lesson. Instead, PBL experiences are more complex and require students to actively work together, challenge one another, and learn together as they complete the task or answer the question posed at the beginning of the experience.

Benefits of Using PBL for College and Career Readiness

Project-based learning is successful because it naturally engages students throughout the entire process. Throughout their time working through a PBL experience, students gain and practice multiple skills they will use throughout their post-education world. Here are just a few benefits your students gain by participating, both passively and actively, in PBL projects.

Collaboration Comfort

One thing is certain in the workplace: teamwork is the foundation of a company’s success, no matter what industry the company is in. Unfortunately, students are not always comfortable with collaboration partially because typical group projects in the classroom do not allow for brainstorming, identifying experts in certain areas, or positive communication. Instead, traditional group projects end up with a leader (who is typically the most outgoing) and a group of reluctant followers who just want to get the project done with a good enough grade.

In contrast, project-based learning experiences are designed to enhance collaboration in a more positive way. Complex questions and problems require complex collaboration, meaning students must involve one another in order to capitalize on one another’s strengths. Students will learn the meaning of long-term collaboration, and those who tend to be more hesitant to contribute will become more comfortable with sharing their insight over time.

Flexibility and Change

It can be difficult to teach how to be flexible and adapt to change in the classroom, especially when the syllabus students receive is generally set in stone. However, flexibility and adaptability is required in the workforce and in college. PBL experiences give students the opportunity to practice this skill. Further, students who are not generally flexible or have perfectionist tendencies can learn by watching their peers who might be naturally more flexible.

Project-based learning experiences do not provide students with a straight line to the end of the project or answer. Instead, students will try new things or approaches and then evaluate what worked and what didn’t work before switching their tactic the next time around. Flexibility and adapting to change may not be there at the beginning of the project, but will surely be there by the conclusion.

Time and Project Management

In PBL experiences, students learn it isn’t just about turning in the final project one time. It’s about breaking down the project into bite size pieces spread out over time. This is a more complex way of looking at organization, and one that mirrors real world projects. Students will learn that their outcome will suffer with procrastination and will even discover the building blocks of work-life balance by spreading out milestones over the course of the experience.

PBL in Action

Project-based learning can be successful in any classroom, with any subject. As of a career and tech school, I have the opportunity to see PBL in action every day and how it works throughout a variety of industries and with a variety of student personalities.

One example of a project on our campus was with our Automotive Services program. Students were tasked with the long-term project of building a safety manual for their shop. They needed to review federal and state safety laws, as well as OSHA regulations to develop the start of their manual before turning to experienced shop owners to discuss other situations that pose a safety risk. Students also had to determine why a thorough safety manual was wise by evaluating how much workman’s compensation insurance and payouts can cost, and how that would affect their shop’s bottom line. Needless to say, students were well-versed in more than just OSHA precautions by the end of the project.

Other examples of project-based learning can include developing a seasonal menu, including pricing, for a restaurant that can bring the restaurant a profit, having students develop a plan for increasing voter registration in a certain area, or asking students to develop an app framework to increase positive communication between parents and the school. The opportunities are endless, as are the benefits to students.

How will you begin to implement PBL in your classroom or school?

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Benefits of Exploring Social Justice

There is a myriad of advantages to exploring social justice issues in the classroom. Students make real-world connections, identify with problems, feelings, joys, and frustrations that attend social justice. Most students are affected by social justice issues in some aspect, and education allows them to make personal connections. Learning and exploring social justice is real and relevant. It is important to allow students to confront social injustice. They learn and utilize empathy in many forms. Social justice is a common theme and answer for real-world issues. Students and teachers gain insights and nurture an ethic of early awareness on social justice

Exploring these issues in the classroom is a vital objective for educators. When students are given this opportunity, they become more informed global citizens and attend to current events affecting all aspects of their lives. Along with the lockdown of Covid-19, many people feel an urgency to care about social justice due to recent events. This type of learning in the classroom promotes activism and heart.

Exploring this topic also may empower them to raise awareness and effect change. A few examples of this include volunteering, taking action where applicable, and providing advocacy. Studying social justice brings a decree of humanity into the classroom. Young people often recognize a need and take initiative on positive change. Many students begin connecting to history and telling their own stories. One of the most important benefits is that is allows students to bond as a group.

History is occurring in real time, and teachers need to acknowledge both the complexity and context in order to teach a complete view of history on social justice. Teachers educate the students on a greater understanding of history in relation to the events that are occurring in the United States today.

Why PBL is a Good Vehicle to Explore Social Justice

Project-based learning is one of the most effective ways to retain knowledge and learn in depth. It engages students and enhances their learning experiences. PBL is interesting, active, and creates higher-level thinking opportunities. Utilizing PBL helps students gain knowledge, skills, and courage to improve social justice. Students take ownership in their learning, and this often results in them discovering issues they are passionate about. They become independent with the nature of PBL and conduct research, solve problems, and it helps prepare them for the real world. It also teaches them how to work with others as a team and collaborate effectively.

Teaching and promoting critical thinking are direct benefits from including PBL opportunities in the classroom. Based on human systems, kids need to be engaged in problem solving in their world. Critical thinking and problem solving must be taught in the classroom, and PBL is a perfect example of this method. Utilizing research and experiences regarding social justice allows students to become more understanding on diversity and how important it is in every aspect of our lives.

Project-based learning is limited in scope and duration. Students work on content they have already learned and address a real-world problem. Students have voice and choice. They reflect on their learning and work directly with others. They work with more rigor, develop a deeper content knowledge, and remain engaged. They become more effective communicators and collaborators.

PBL Examples

Utilizing PBL enhances the service-learning component of social justice. There are many examples and ways teachers can include PBL in their classrooms. Research supports that it is effective to utilize a group of students working on outcome-oriented projects rather than individual assignments. Students can conduct research, provide feedback, make educational videos, create posters, and involve an audience on any aspect of a topic.

Great ways to develop a critical understanding of social justice history are incorporating projects that can foster positivity such as creating a protest poster. Another idea could include creating a blog of students’ perspectives on social justice. Others may study political art and poetry from around the world and create their own art projects regarding their passions on the subject. Teachers and students may include their experiences and personal stories.

Today’s teachers can learn from the encounters of a previous generation of their peers that have experienced social justice. Inviting guest lectures and hosting a panel discussion or debate regarding a social justice issue are meaningful and engaging. Students are involved in challenging lessons because they are researching real-world problems, brainstorming, implementing a plan, and evaluating the findings. They are also listening and sharing personal stories and thoughts.

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Project-based learning, PBL for short, is becoming more and more popular in the world of education. Not only can project-based learning be beneficial at school, it can also be a wonderful way for students to learn at home. So, what is project-based learning? In short, it is when students learn through projects that involve investigating, questioning, researching, and collaborating to produce a product that demonstrates what they have learned. It is a researched- based teaching method that is often more engaging to students than traditional lessons.

Project-based learning might seem intimidating to parents at first, so it is important to support parents and students through this process at home. The following are ways to help support students and parents on their project-based journeys at home.

Ensure Expectations are Clear – and Consider Lowering Them

It’s important for teachers to remember that not all parents and homes are equipped with the same skills, supplies, resources, and technology as school classrooms. For this reason, it is key for teachers to set clear expectations for their students and to insure that these expectations are appropriate and attainable.

To begin, teachers must express to parents that it’s okay not to do everything perfectly. Most parents who work will find it overwhelming to think about facilitating projects with their children. By letting parents and guardians know that perfection is not expected, and that students will be receiving support, teachers can put parents more at ease. Teachers should give parents simple and clear instructions for project-based learning activities and make themselves available for communication throughout the day.

For families that do not have internet access or access to devices, teachers should reassure families that other options are available such as books and art supplies. Many schools will allow students to check-out electronic devices to use at home. If this is possible, teachers should assist students who are in need in obtaining technological devices. Using projects that do not require technology is also an option.

Share Benefits of PBL at Home

Another way to encourage project-based learning at home is to share the benefits of this type of learning with parents and families. Project-based learning offers benefits such as giving students the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning, as opposed to completing mundane worksheets. Additionally, project-based learning gets students excited about learning new information and allows them to take charge of their learning pace and the product they choose to create to show what they have learned. 

According to the National Education Association, project-based learning makes learning relevant to students by helping them make connections to life outside of the classroom. Students are able to apply new objectives to real world issues. It also gives students the opportunity to think creatively and to learn in a way that is student-centered.

Explain How Parents can Provide Support

As parents and students begin to participate in project-based learning, it will be important for parents to understand how they can provide support to their child. There are several ways in which parents can be supportive. Setting up a space in the home dedicated to learning is one suggestion. This provides structure for students and gives them a consistent and familiar place to participate in learning each day.

Another way for parents to support students during project-based learning is to become familiar with the term and to research resources and ideas. Here is a guide parents can utilize. This guide explains the basics of project-based learning to parents and describes how this type of learning is student-centered, where students can take ownership of their learning.

Provide Project Ideas

There are so many ideas for project-based learning that can be done at home. For parents that are already busy and new to this type of learning, it would be helpful for teachers to provide them with project ideas. Some ideas include, but are not limited to:

• Eat This, Not That – This activity integrates writing, math, and nutrition by having students research nutritional information about food and describe this information in a product of their choosing.
• Recycling Program – Students can easily start a recycling program at home by researching ways to recycle, recycling materials at home, and showcasing this in a way that they choose. This could be through pictures, blogs, journals, etc.
• Student Podcasts – Students can choose a learning topic, listen to student-friendly podcasts regarding this topic, and create their own podcast that reveals what they have learned.
• Photo Essays – Students can research pictures of topics via the internet or go out into the world and snap some photos. Students can then produce descriptive writing that explains what they have observed.
• Plan a Service Learning Project – Have students choose a cause (animal shelter, homeless shelter, food pantry, etc.), research the cause, participate in providing a service (donate food, serve food, walk animals, etc.), and report back about their experience.

Online project-based learning ideas and resources are widely available to parents and teachers.  These ideas are just a click away. Some families, however, do not have access to the internet and it is important for teachers to provide parents with ideas to drive project-based learning at home. Encouraging students and their families to give project-based learning a chance is totally worth it!

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