Blog
Motivate Me with CBE: What Learners Want from School
How do we make school not just a place to learn, but a place to thrive? What are the key ingredients that truly motivate students to persist and excel in their learning journey? A recent Edweek survey attempted to answer these questions by asking students and teachers directly: what practices would be most powerful for…
Read MoreDoes Project-Based Learning Help Underperforming Students?
While traditional learning works for some students, project-based learning (PBL) is especially beneficial for underperforming students, disengaged, and diverse student populations. By connecting students to their learning with hands-on activities and encouraging them to work on topics they choose for themselves, PBL engages students with different needs and helps them relate to the material. The…
Read MoreHow to incorporate project-based learning
Think of project-based learning as a process that will unfold and develop over time. Project-Based Learning is founded on seven core components many of which are likely already occurring in your practice. Be intentional when incorporating PBL, and see the process as a journey rather than a shift that happens in one day. There are…
Read MoreEngage with students through Project-Based Learning
When you look back to your school years, what do you remember most? What stands out most vividly for me are the creative projects my teachers assigned and the real-life experiences they shared. In the seventh grade, we designed and furnished an entire house on a given budget. This involved creating and drawing a floor…
Read MoreWhy is project-based learning important?
Research shows that project-based learning (PBL) is beneficial for all students. By actively engaging students in their learning and putting them in charge, PBL encourages students to address challenging problems or questions through a reflective process developing and devising solutions for an authentic audience. This requires a focus on skill development promoting agency and self-directed…
Read MoreThe History of Project-Based Learning (PBL)
Project-based education has a long history, although it might seem like a relatively new approach that has become popular only in the last few decades. In this blog we cover the history of Project-Based Learning and share that history visually as we trace the concept of learning by doing back centuries. The Socratic method of…
Read More5 Tips to Engage with Underperforming Students
Increasing student achievement in traditional academic outcomes such as literacy, numeracy, and content knowledge is vital for post-secondary success. In recent decades, the definition of achievement has expanded to include essential skills like the 4C’s, Career Readiness, Wayfinding, and Social-Emotional Learning. This expanded definition of student success has been necessitated and accelerated by many factors,…
Read MoreTwo things every educator can do today to help youth find post-pandemic resilience
Right now, many young people are vibrating with the uncertainty, isolation, and collective trauma due to this global pandemic which has captured everyone’s attention. As responsible adults, it is crucial to help our youth shift their attention to positive innate qualities to help them regrow their courage, strength, and resilience. Here are two simple yet…
Read MoreCompetency-Based Education: Definition and Examples
In this blog, we will define Competency-Based Education (CBE) and discuss how the essential components of CBE work together to transform learning in K12 schools and districts. We will also examine some of the specific benefits CBE brings to learners, teachers, and communities. Finally, we will present two CBE classroom scenarios with examples. Defining Competency-Based…
Read MorePBL & CBE Rubrics: What You Need To Know
The creation of frameworks for planning, executing, and evaluating learning outcomes is a necessary part of the educational process. One of the more common ways to set and assess expectations is through the use of a rubric. Rubrics are tools that help guide learners through a task, skill, or project and assist in assessing their…
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