1. DIY
Driving Question
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2. Unit Design Process
Driving Question Video 2

3. Design Rubric Objective
D.2 Develop or discover relevant challenges for
students to problem-solve and design solutions for
an authentic audience while mastering the
standards for each unit
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4. Elements of GOOD DQs
open-ended
real
standards based
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5. open-ended
you do not already know the
answer nor does Google
X What are the causes of the American Revolution?
How can we create a revolution in American
education?
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6. real
not real-world hypothetical
Driving Questions make the real connection between standards/TEKS
and how skills/content can be applied in real life.
X What will the Houston topography look like in 150 million
years?
How can we save Parkway Greens from eroding?
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7. standards based
no time wasted on projects that
are not aligned
Giving students the end application before “teaching them the
background” establishes a need to know the knowledge/skills you
were going to teach and allows them to take ownership and be a more
active part of the teaching and learning process because they can direct
their own learning based on individual needs to get to the end.
X How can we create a cultural food fair?
How can we teach our teachers about our cultural similarities and
differences?
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8. questions for creating DQs . . .
• Which standards do the students need to master in this unit/time
frame?
• Who uses this content knowledge/skill in the world?
• What audience would find this project informative or entertaining?
• How is this content knowledge/skill applied in business? Daily life?
Living problems?
• What real problem could students solve using these skills or content
knowledge?
• How could this knowledge/skill be helpful to students now (besides
getting a grade or passing a test)?
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9. starters for DQs . . .
How can I/we …
In what ways could I/we…
design
plan
solve
provide
teach
explain
justify
persuade
help
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for our …
town
school principal
mayor
peers
parents
superintendent
school board
city council
younger students
community
student council
library charity

10. Real application of content/skills in
TEKS: A Key to Student Engagement!
In traditional school, students are just doing what the
teacher tells them that day to get the grade or do well
on the test. PBL is designed to help students own their
own learning because they can see relevance! The
following are some tips on finding relevance in each
subject area and some example driving questions from
your own peers.
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11. ELAR
use skills of writing/reading /speaking /listening to
learn, make decisions and communicate
X How can we persuade Ms. Torres to change the
bell system?
How can we entertain our peers/other classes/
younger students/our community/our parents using
poetic devices/the techniques of figurative
language/drama/short stories, etc?
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12. Science 12
use understanding of scientific principles and systems to
solve real problems
X What design is best to keep an egg from cracking
when dropped from a certain height? (problem-
based)
What can we design to lessen the environmental
impact of carbon dioxide emissions?

13. Social Studies
use understanding of geography, culture,
government, economics, etc. to make decisions
X How can we reduce human trafficking in our
country?
How can we create a public service
announcement promoting the Bill of Rights?
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14. Math
specific problems with multiple strategies for solving a real-
life situation (can be found in enrichment problems in text
and other resources)
X How can we re-design the auto body shop/the library to
address all our needs? What mural design works best for
the gym wall?
What is the minimum amount of aluminum needed to
create a cistern for rainwater harvesting given a volume
of 25 cu meters? (problem-based)
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15. DQ Challenge
1. Please complete the Driving Question Challenge
2. Check your answers
3. Let us know if you have questions or concerns
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