An Introduction to

Project Based Learning

Carol Bush
Professional Development Specialist
Orleans/Niagara BOCES

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Essential Questions
What

is project based learning?

How

is PBL different from traditional approaches to

teaching and learning?

What
Why

does the research say about PBL?

is PBL so important for college and career

readiness?

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What are your thoughts?
Developing questions about complex, intriguing, and
sometimes mysterious experiences or phenomena
seems to be a very natural occurrence. When
people encounter strange happenings or difficult
concepts and ideas, they naturally formulate
questions such as, Whats going on? Why is this
happening? What does this mean? What will happen
in the future? If they decide to answer these
questions, they embark on a journey of thought that
may take a few minutes, hours, or years.

+
What is Project Based Learning?
A systematic teaching method that engages students
in learning essential knowledge and life-enhancing
skills through an extended, student-influenced
inquiry process structured around complex, relevant
questions and carefully designed products and
authentic tasks.
-Project Based Learning, Buck Institute

+
What is Project Based Learning?
A systematic teaching method that engages
students in learning essential knowledge and lifeenhancing skills through an extended, studentinfluenced inquiry process structured around
complex, relevant questions and carefully designed
products and authentic tasks.
-Project Based Learning, Buck Institute

+
What is Project Based Learning?
A systematic teaching method that engages

students in learning essential knowledge

and life-enhancing skills through an extended,
student-influenced inquiry process structured around
complex, relevant questions and carefully designed
products and authentic tasks.
-Project Based Learning, Buck Institute

+
What is Project Based Learning?
A systematic teaching method that engages students
in learning essential knowledge and life-enhancing
skills through an extended, studentinfluenced, inquiry process structured around
complex, relevant questions and carefully designed
products and authentic tasks.
-Project Based Learning, Buck Institute

+
What is Project Based Learning?
A systematic teaching method that engages students
in learning essential knowledge and life-enhancing
skills through an extended, student-influenced
inquiry process structured around complex,
relevant questions and carefully designed
products and authentic tasks.
-Project Based Learning, Buck Institute

+
What is Project Based Learning?
A systematic teaching method that engages students
in learning essential knowledge and life-enhancing
skills through an extended, student-influenced
inquiry process structured around complex,
relevant questions and carefully designed
products and authentic tasks.
-Project Based Learning, Buck Institute

+
What is Project Based Learning?
A systematic teaching method that engages students
in learning essential knowledge and life-enhancing
skills through an extended, student-influenced
inquiry process structured around complex,
relevant questions and carefully designed products
and authentic tasks.
-Project Based Learning, Buck Institute

+
What is Project Based Learning?
A systematic teaching method that engages students
in learning essential knowledge and life-enhancing
skills through an extended, student-influenced
inquiry process structured around complex, relevant
questions and carefully designed products and
authentic tasks.
-Project Based Learning, Buck Institute

+
The Five Keys to Project Based
Learning

Real-World Connection

Core to Learning

Structured Collaboration

Student Driven

Multifaceted Assessment

How is Project Based Learning different

from traditional approaches to teaching
and learning?

+
A word of caution
Projects

PBL

Teacher directed

Student-driven, Inquiry based

Highly structured

Open-ended

Summative

On-going

Thematic

Driving question/challenge

Fun

Engaging

Answer giving

Problem solving

De-contextualized School world

Contextualized Real world

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Traditional Approach

PBL Approach

Teacher-directed

Self-directed

Listen, memorize, repeat

Discover, apply, present

Independence

Collaboration

Teacher decision-making

Teacher and student decision

making

Knowledge of facts, terms, content

21st Century Skills

Direct instruction

Varied instructional strategies

Short, isolated lessons with

predetermined answers

Long-term investigations

Standards-based

Standards-based

Assessment tests

Ongoing assessments

School-based

Real-connections

Quizzes and tests

Reflections

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Playing a different role
Teacher Role

Student Role

Serve as facilitator

Set goals

Model thinking and problemsolving strategies effectively

Explore and ask questions

Structure meaningful tasks

Work well with peers

Work with students to frame

worthwhile questions

Stay accountable to self, peers,

and teacher for project outcomes

Manage the structure of multiple

day-to-day activities to produce
high quality outcomes
Teach students to set goals

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What does the research say about
Project Based Learning?
Increases

student motivation and engagement in

learning
Is

more effective than traditional instruction in

increasing academic achievement
Improves

student retention of knowledge over time

Improves

mastery of 21st century skills

+What are 21st century skills?

Seven Survival Skills
Wagner

Six Senses
Pink

Partnership for 21st

Century Skills

Critical Thinking and

Problem Solving

Play - inquiry based

learning

Critical Thinking and

Problem Solving

Collaboration and
Leading by Influence

Empathy - Collaboration

Collaboration

Agility and Adaptability

Initiative and
Entrepreneurialism

Life and Career Skills

Effective Oral and Written

Communication Skills

Story communication

Accessing and Analyzing

Information

Symphony putting the

pieces together

Curiosity and Imagination

Design create

Communication

Creativity and Innovation

Meaning pursue desires

Information Media and
Technology Skills

+ st
21 Century Skills in a Nutshell

The Four Cs

Communication

Collaboration

Critical Thinking

Creativity

Why is this so important?

Mastery of 21st Century Skills = College and Career Readiness

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A few words from PBL teachers

Shift in mindset and role

More applicable to certain content areas

Challenging (and daunting)

Doesnt happen overnight

All about looking at what specialists in each field do and trying

to expose kids to more of that

More meaningful for students

+How Do We Feel About Using PBL in

Teacher Education?
Its different!
Student driven
Problems prompt, rather than
follow, skill development

Its hard!
Developing a good problem*
Consistent use of guided inquiry
Giving up control

Its time-consuming!
Planning
Implementing

Its wonderful!
High engagement
Self-directed learning

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Resources for Project Based
Learning

http://elschools.org

http://pbl-online.org/

http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning

http://www.bie.org/

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Any questions?
Carol H. Bush
Professional Development Specialist
Center for School Improvement & Professional
Development
(716) 731-6800 x3755
cbush@onboces.org