Project based learning (PBL) is an instructional approach that uses real-world problems as the context for students to gain knowledge and skills. Through PBL, students engage in an extended inquiry process in response to complex questions and challenges. This helps develop skills like collaboration, time management, and leadership. PBL improves student engagement and prepares them for 21st century careers by making them responsible for their own learning. An example is a civics class where students each create their own country and relate government concepts to its systems as they learn. Technology can enhance PBL by allowing students to represent their work through tools like Photoshop, social media, and digital presentations.

2. Definition
0 Project based learning (PBL) is also known as “Real
World Learning”
0 through PBL, students go through an extended
process of inquiry in response to a complex question,
problem, or challenge that deals with real-world
learning

3. Importance
0 along with concepts, teaches organization,
articulation, time management, project management,
and collaboration
0 teaches life skills
0 improves student engagement and retention
0 prepares students for 21st century careers
0 puts learners at the center of education- they are no
longer just the audience
0 Leadership skills

4. Applying PBL to the 21st
Century
Project based learning allows students to take the
initiative in their learning by questioning and putting
their critical thinking skills to use. It allows more then
one subject matter to be mastered at a time and is more
hands on and engaging allowing the students to have
fun while learning. This greater responsibility for their
own learning allows them to gain real-life skills and
prepares them for their future careers and collaborating
with others.

5. Examples
0Civics Class-
• each student creates their own country with their
own form of government and economy
• as they learn through the class they relate the actual
civics terms to their country’s form of government and
economy
• they will then due a final presentation explaining
their original country with their new knowledge

6. Role of Technology in PBL
0 Looking at our example…
• Photoshop- create pictures of themselves meeting other world leaders with
similar leadership styles and/or creating landmarks that are popular in their
country
• Facebook/Twitter- students could create an “offical” Facebook page for
themselves as a leader and their country as a whole as well as follow the
profiles of the other “leaders” in their class
• Edmodo- their can share information about their countries and get input
from the teacher as well as classmates; also helpful for due date reminders
• Voki- create a press statement regarding your country from its leader
• WebQuest- this whole project can be presented as a WebQuest in order to
share helpful websites
• YouTube/digital story telling- create a brief video on the history of their
country. This can include the Photoshop images they have already created.
• Poster- students will make an advertisement to try to get tourists to visit
your country
• SecondLife- making their own country

7. Works Cited
0 http://pbl-online.org/About/whatisPBL.htm
0 www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning
0 www.bie.org