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 MoreOpen Up, Education! 3 Takeaways on How Open Way Learning Can Transform Schools
From LiFT Learning’s Webinar Series Authors Adam Haigler and Ben Owens met when teaching at Tri-County Early College, an innovative NC High School focused on the development of skills through learner-led projects. It was there that Adam and Ben put theory to practice working with youth to create, collaborate, and innovate. Over dinner with friends,…
Read MoreScaffolding Strategies for K-12 Teachers: What You Need to Know
A teacher’s job is not simply presenting information for students to absorb, and teaching does not mean learning. An educator is responsible for ensuring that students develop an understanding of core concepts and themes as well as develop skills to transfer knowledge to new settings inside and outside of the classroom. And while teachers can…
Read More8 Strategies to Engage Students
Student engagement strategies, like those shared here, are designed to inspire teachers to empower their students with a goal of increasing attention, curiosity, and passion. Of course, student engagement is human engagement and people are complex at all ages. While these strategies can help to improve engagement, there is no single recipe or response that…
Read MoreRedefining Student Success
3 Takeaways with Ken Kay & Susie Boss Ken Kay and Suzie Boss have spent their careers working to develop and promote strategies, systems, and structures for schools and districts. Through their respective work at EdLeader21 and PBLWorks, countless educators have implemented learner-centered practices and strategies such as Project-Based Learning and Profile of a…
Read MoreWhat is project-based learning?
A Formal Definition of PBL In order to understand Project-Based Learning (PBL), it is helpful to begin with an agreed-upon definition. PBLWorks offers a research-informed model of Project-Based Learning, Gold Standard PBL, that identifies seven essential project design elements. Within this model, educators adopt a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by…
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 MoreMaslow Before Bloom
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Abraham Maslow created a hierarchy of needs that includes five tiers: physiological, safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. The two lowest tiers address basic needs such as food, water, shelter, safety, sleep, clean air, clothing, and warmth. When students’ basic needs are not being met, it is going to be a challenge…
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…
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