Project-Based Learning
Open 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 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 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 MoreReigniting Energy and Passion in the Classroom with Student-led Learning
I was a deer in the headlights when I was first asked to come up with a question to drive my own individual research for a project that would later be presented to community members and fellow students. What would I focus on? What was important? What was I supposed to be learning from this…
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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