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We share evidence-based K-12 learning strategies that empower you to improve education.

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Blogs on Project-Based Learning

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Digital/Landscape: Breathing Real Life into the Virtual World

Autumn CrispNovember 1, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Expeditionary Learning, Primary (K-2), Project-Based Learning, Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts, History, Math, North Carolina

Cocooned in the safety of a library carrel, students can travel the world via Google Earth and see live video feed of the Doll's Festival in Japan. The haiku master Basho had to travel on foot for the same event, sleeping on hard floors in flea-infested straw. Today, students can peruse images of the English countrysides, full of the oxlips, nodding violets, and sweet musk-roses that inspired Shakespeare, without dampening their sneakers in dew or suffering the consequences of allergies. They can listen to the voices of strangers telling their life stories on podcasts and add their own stories to the voicethread of the world.

The Shield of Achilles Project: How I Used Digital Video to Make Classical Lit Relevant

Kenneth OldenOctober 25, 2011

Tags Curriculum, Project-Based Learning, , Student Engagement, High (9-12), English Language Arts, History

"The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war."
-- Douglas MacArthur

Why Teach Classical Greek Literature?

Near the end of the 2008-2009 school year, I had started reading The Iliad with my students and was struggling to connect them with the text. The language of the poem, the extended metaphors, the repetitious patterns of phrases and names bogged my students down, and they constantly questioned to the value of reading the text. I spent weeks answering questions about Greek culture and the Trojan War, showing short videos and PowerPoint presentations and rereading passages with them -- but the buy-in still wasn't there.

"The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war."
-- Douglas MacArthur

Why Teach Classical Greek Literature?

Near the end of the 2008-2009 school year, I had started reading The Iliad with my students and was struggling to connect them with the text. The language of the poem, the extended metaphors, the repetitious patterns of phrases and names bogged my students down, and they constantly questioned to the value of reading the text. I spent weeks answering questions about Greek culture and the Trojan War, showing short videos and PowerPoint presentations and rereading passages with them -- but the buy-in still wasn't there.

Immersive PBL: Indiana Project Reaches Far Beyond the Classroom

Suzie BossOctober 21, 2011

Tags Integrated Studies, Primary (K-2), Project-Based Learning, Teacher Development, Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12), All Grades

Veteran science teacher Michael Baer has always tried to connect what his students are learning in the classroom to the real world. But even 35 years in education didn't fully prepare him for the powerful learning that would unfold when he agreed to help his students figure out how they could get clean drinking water to the people of Haiti.

Five Steps to Better School/Community Collaboration

Brendan O'KeefeOctober 19, 2011

Tags Business Partnerships, Community Partnerships, Parental Involvement, Project-Based Learning, Teacher Development, All Grades

As the old African proverb says, "It takes a village to raise a child." One could imagine then that it would take a community to raise a school. We can't rely on local, state, or federal governments to take ownership of the issues we face locally. We need to work as a community to nurture our schools for our particular community needs.

A New (School) Year's Resolution: Looking Back and Forward

Bob LenzSeptember 27, 2011

Tags Project-Based Learning, Teacher Development, Technology Integration, All Grades

The beginning of a new school year for an educator is like the beginning of a calendar year for everyone else. It's a time for reflection on lessons learned and an exciting time of looking forward towards improvement.

K-5 iPad Apps for Evaluating Evaluation: Part Five of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy

Diane DarrowSeptember 22, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Comprehensive Assessment, Formative Assessment, Game-Based Learning, Integrated Studies, Performance Assessment, Primary (K-2), Project-Based Learning, Technology Integration, Upper Elementary (3-5), English Language Arts, Math, Science

The cognitive domain Evaluating focuses on skills necessary to judge the value of ideas, techniques, products, or solutions. Students must evaluate the credibility or functionality of given content with clearly defined criteria and standards.

National Parks: Project-Based Learning in Our Most Important Places

Milton ChenSeptember 16, 2011

Tags Expeditionary Learning, Field Trips, Health, Project-Based Learning, Teacher Development, Middle (6-8), High (9-12), English Language Arts, Geography, History, Physical Education, Science, Visual Arts

This summer, when millions of families took the iconic American vacation in our National Parks, I had a chance to visit with many educators who are using the Parks for place-based learning. In June, I spoke at the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom conference, a passionate group of teachers, park rangers, and nonprofit educators who are giving students a deeper, more meaningful connection to the history of slavery in our nation. The Underground Railroad Network is not a single National Park but, as its name indicates, a network of places far more extensive than I was aware of.

Twenty Tips for Managing Project-Based Learning

Andrew MillerSeptember 14, 2011

Tags Project-Based Learning, , Teacher Development, Middle (6-8), High (9-12)

In honor of Edutopia's 20th anniversary, we're producing a series of Top 20 lists, from the practical to the sublime.

20 Tips for Managing Project-Based Learning

1. Use Social Media One of the best ways to document collaboration and engage students with technology is use social media platforms like Edmodo. Read More

Twenty Ideas for Engaging Projects

Suzie BossSeptember 12, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Curriculum, Project-Based Learning, Teacher Development, Technology Integration, All Grades, Science, World Language Learning

The start of the school year offers an ideal time to introduce students to project-based learning. By starting with engaging projects, you'll grab their interest while establishing a solid foundation of important skills, such as knowing how to conduct research, engage experts, and collaborate with peers. In honor of Edutopia's 20th anniversary, here are 20 project ideas to get learning off to a good start.

K-5 iPad Apps for Analyzing: Part Four of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy

Diane DarrowSeptember 8, 2011

Tags Classroom Technology, Comprehensive Assessment, Game-Based Learning, Integrated Studies, Primary (K-2), Project-Based Learning, Upper Elementary (3-5)

When children look under the hood of a car, their perspective is one of pure curiosity. They immediately want to identify the parts, find out the location of major features, start to ask questions about how the various elements work together, and search to understand the organization of the car as a whole.