The Stuff of PBL

Well the circumstances of the three examples are clear from the beginning. The teachers want the students engaged and taking ownership of their learning. These projects whether they were chosen by the students or the teachers are used so that students can learn through experience and show competence in standards across various curriculum. These students not only are engaged in the content they are learning about, but also their peers. This aspect of PBL is so crucial in student learning. These students are learning from each other, how to work with each other, and how to share their views.

The design of these projects is essentially the same and employs a simple approach. First discuss the topic, then do the work, and finally share the project. The students spend the majority of the time in the second phase, and most all projects used any and all resources available. Every project included various online and print resources, experts in the field, field trips, and experiments. Essentially students are provided with any means necessary to gain the knowledge they want and need.

The teachers in these stories are involved in the entire process, doing what they can to facilitate the students' learning. They are all open in saying that this style of "teaching" looks easy, but in fact takes much more preparation.

The students get to be learners. They aren't forced to sit and listen, they are encouraged to ask questions and find the answers. They not only get a sort of freedom with their work, but also great ownership. The students are truly engaged and enjoy the work. It's this genuine engagement that keeps the students learning and applying the knowledge to other areas. They are learning how to learn which is a lifelong skill. These projects teach students to solve problems, seek and find answers, and to become active participants in education.