This document discusses key aspects of project-based learning (PBL). It explains that PBL involves students applying what they know to solve real-world problems in order to build deeper understanding and skills. PBL is more student-centered and interactive compared to traditional instruction, with students taking on more collaborative and expert roles. For projects to truly qualify as PBL, they need to focus on ideas that are meaningful, produce authentic work that has value outside the classroom, and make the learning process meaningful through student choice, control, and collaboration.

1. It Matters!
Three Ideas to
Move from
Projects to PBL
Melinda Kolk, Tech4Learning
@melindak

2. What is PBL?
In a project-based approach to
teaching and learning, students
work to apply what they know to
solve a real world problem.
In the process, they gain deeper
understanding, as well as
building thinking, communication,
and 21st century skills.

3. Why Do Project/PBL Work?
Provide children with the opportunity
to apply skills
Address children's proficiencies
Stress intrinsic motivation
Encourage children to determine
what to work on and accepts them as
experts about their needs
Lilian Katz - The Project Approach. ERIC Digest 1994
Dr. Sylvia Chard - http://www.projectapproach.org/

4. Instruction to construction
Teaching and Learning Continuum
Instruction Construction
Not a theory of teaching, but a belief in
how learning happens. - Alfie Kohn

5. Instruction to Construction
Classroom Activities
Teacher Role
Student Role
Instruction to --->
Teacher-centered
Didactic
Fact teller
Always expert
Listener
Always Learner
Construction
Student-centered
Interactive
Collaborator
Sometimes Learner
Collaborator
Sometime Expert
Instructional Emphasis Facts Relationships
Memorization Inquiry and Invention
Accumulation of Facts Transformation Concept of Knowledge of Facts
Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow: What We've Learned, David Dwyer, ASCD

6. Why PBL and not projects?
Teaching and Learning Continuum
Direct Instruction PBL
Projects
"The State Report"

7. So you want to do PBL
"It Matters" how you do it!
• Ideas that matter
• Work that matters
• Effort that matters

8. Ideas that matter
Student work in PBL should be
educationally meaningful.
• Big ideas (interdisciplinary)
• Essential questions (complex)
• Higher-order thinking
cover vs. uncover

9. Work that matters
Student work is authentic.
1. work is something done by someone
outside of the classroom.
2. work is done for someone outside of
the classroom.
3. work has value to those outside of
the classroom.
Products Problems
Audience Value

10. Effort that matters
It is important to make the project
process meaningful.
• Learner choice
• Learner control (self-direction)
• Learning together (collaboration)
It's the process, not the product!

11. Let's explore some projects
Ideas that matter
• Why are students doing this?
Work that matters
• Who does this?
• Who cares?
Effort that matters
• Who am I working with?
• How is this mine?

12. Let's explore some projects
Ideas that matter
• Why are students doing this?
Work that matters
• Who does this?
• Who cares?
Effort that matters
• Who am I working with?
• How is this mine?

13. Let's Explore some projects
Ideas that matter
• Why are students doing this?
Work that matters
• Who does this?
• Who cares?
Effort that matters
• Who am I working with?
• How is this mine? Watch on YouTube

14. So you want to do PBL
"It Matters" how you do it!
• Ideas that matter
• Work that matters
• Effort that matters