In this section, you will find materials and resources for teaching about project-based learning, whether you are conducting a two-hour session or class or can spend a day or two on the topic.

We believe you will find much here from which you can build a set of experiences tailored to class participants for the purpose of exploring PBL:

• Suggested Readings and Viewings
• Sample Session Schedules
• A PowerPoint Presentation

SUGGESTED READINGS AND VIEWINGS

More Edutopia.org Resources on Project-Based Learning:

• Edutopia's Project-Based Learning Core Strategy page
• Article: "Real-World Issues Motivate Students: An Overview of PBL"
• Video: "An Introduction to Project-Based Learning"
• Article: "Research Validates Project-Based Learning"
• Schools That Work Package: "Project Learning in Maine"
• Resource Roundup: "Project Learning: Model Schools with Solutions"
• Article: "The PBL Launch Pad: Worthwhile Projects for High School Students"
• Article: "How to Turn Project-Learning Setbacks to Your Advantage"
• Article: "10 Takeaway Tips for Project-Based Learning"
• Resource Roundup: "A Reading List for Project-Based Learning"
• Resource Roundup: "Free Resources and Downloads for Project Learning"
• Discussion Group: Project-Based Learning

Top Edutopia.org Case Study Videos on Project-Based Learning:

Lower Elementary

• Worm Project at Newsome Park Elementary School in Newport News, VA
• Various Projects at Auburn Early Education Center in Auburn, AL

Upper Elementary

• Water Wheel Project at Ferryway School in Malden, MA
• NatureMapping Project at Waterville Elementary School in Waterville, WA
• Journey North Project at Rockledge Elementary School in Bowie, MD
• Geo-Literacy Project at Tolenas Elementary School in Fairfield, CA

Middle School

• Soil Superheroes Project at King Middle School in Portland, ME
• Kinetic Conundrum Project at King Middle School in Portland, ME
• Wetland Watchers Project at Harry M. Hurst Middle School in Destrehan, LA

High School

• African Wildlife DNA Project at High Tech High School in San Diego, CA
• "Give Me Shelter" Project at Casco Bay High School in Portland, ME
• Wing Strength Design Project at Aviation High School in Seattle, WA
• UrbanPlan Project at Alameda High School in Alameda, CA
• Schools for the Year 2050 Project at Mountlake Terrace High School in Mountlake Terrace, WA

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Additional Resources Elsewhere on the Web:

Organizations

• Project-Based Learning for the 21st Century (Buck Institute for Education)
• Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound
• Association for Experiential Learning
• High Tech High

Research and Readings

• Seven Essentials for Project-Based Learning (ASCD)
• Reinventing Project-Based Learning blog by Suzie Boss and Jane Krauss

Guidelines and Tools

• The Project Approach (Sylvia Chard)
• Questioning.org (Jamie McKenzie)
• Project-Based Learning: Building Motivation (4Teachers.org)
• Criteria for Authentic Project-Based Learning (STAR Center)
• Reinventing Project-Based Learning (ISTE)

Recommended Texts:

• Edutopia: Success Stories for Learning in the Digital Age
• The George Lucas Educational Foundation
• Jossey-Bass, A Wiley Company
• Copyright © 2002
• ISBN: 0-7879-6082-9

• PBL Handbook
• Markham, Thom; Larmer, John; and Ravitz, Jason
• The Buck Institute for Education
• Copyright © 2003
• ISBN: 0-974034-304

• Beyond Technology: Questioning, Research, and the Information Literate School
• McKenzie, Jamie
• 1st ed. Copyright © 2000
• ISBN: 0-9674078-2-6

• The Project Approach: Making Curriculum Come Alive
• Chard, Sylvia C.
• Book One Copyright © 1998
• ISBN: 0-590-12852-3

• Learning by Heart
• Barth, Roland S.
• 1st ed., Copyright © 2001
• ISBN: 0-7879-5543-4

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SAMPLE SESSION SCHEDULES

The sample schedule provides ideas for one- and two-day sessions. Depending on your resources, videos can be viewed online or downloaded via iTunes U. Edutopia.org also offers a Project-Based Learning DVD featuring eight documentaries. Ideally, participants should have online access to Internet resources, particularly for the afternoon and second-day sessions.

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POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

This PowerPoint presentation introduces PBL, based on research and case studies, and discusses why the method should be used, what it is, and how to begin, touching on the process of questioning, planning, scheduling, monitoring, assessing, and evaluating. The presentation then asks for group participation, and activities to be done in small groups are suggested on the final slides. Active links are provided for websites.

The presentation consists of 17 slides, and is available either as an online HTML presentation or a downloadable PowerPoint file.

You can use the HTML version online during class time if you have a computer and a presentation system with Internet access; use it as you would any lecture presentation material.

Download the PowerPoint file to your hard drive for use on your laptop or a classroom computer; open and run the PowerPoint file just as you would any other PowerPoint presentation. You can also make changes and insert your own course information.

In addition, each slide in the downloaded and online versions contains Speaker Notes you can use as lecture notes when you show the presentation.

If you do not have Microsoft PowerPoint and do not wish to use the online HTML presentation, you can download PowerPoint Viewer for your PC, which will allow you to share this presentation with an audience but will not allow you to edit it in any way.

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