Project Based Learning

Project Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching “technique” that focuses on the idea of using authentic learning activities to “teach” content.  However, the “teaching” is really exploration into content more than direct teaching.  PBL activities are strongly connected to problem solving in the real world.  For instance, a Social Studies teacher could open a textbook and use the content to teach students about Parliamentary procedure used to organize meetings. Or, the PBL way would be to have students research the topic, attend a school board meeting to see the process in real life, and then organize their own meeting.  The main idea of PBL is in-depth learning of the topic by living it. Here is a more detailed definition:  PBL Definition

Blueprint Education has had the opportunity to work with several organizations that provide PBL to attendees.  In 2009, I presented at the NATSAP conference in Austin, Texas, about how to take authenic learning activities, such as the ones in PBL, and align them to academic standards. Here is a review of that conference. NATSAP Review  For a copy of the presentation from NATSAP, please contact me at jenniferb@blueprineducation.org 

PBL is a way to make content come alive for students.  It creates meaning for their learning by connecting it to real life problems and by allowing them to find solutions.   

Embedded these videos:  http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning