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We have all heard about Project Based Learning... and we all want to get our kiddos this excited about learning... but where do we start? How exactly is it different from giving students a project... like I'm sure we have all done once or twice?

In this Padlet, I have put together everything we might need to get our PBL journey started!

KEY
Green: Blogs/Images
Blue: Youtube Videos
Pink: Twitter
Purple: Books about PBL

White: Content Specific

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PBL has the potential to really develop students "growth mindset", possibly more than any other philosophy. You're giving them a question to guide their own research, their own progress. It makes learning more personable and thus making them feel more invested in it.

We all strive to make help students find their "AHA" moment and PBL is the philosophy that will help them get there. It's also very authentic. In the work-place they will be asked to solve problems, to drive their own research, independently and collaboratively.

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With this chart you can see, very clearly, the differences between doing a project and what PBL is. It's giving them a purpose and the whole unit being a project they can present at the end.

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Introduction to Project Based Learning (PBL) Process

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5 Keys to Rigorous Project-Based Learning

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This is one of the most helpful blog I've been able to find to help teachers with PBL... It has many FREE resources and guides to help!

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Not sure what project-based learning is? Start by reading this post first!
Choose a topic that will inspire your students

The most important part of PBL is choosing a topic that your students will be interested in. You can choose a general category (animals) or zoom in on a specific topic (penguins). It's up to you! Keep an eye on your class for a few weeks to figure out what they're interested in.

What type of books do they check out?

What do they talk about in class and at recess?

What games do they play at recess?

What items do they decorate their binders with?

My Favorite Topics

Know the elements

It's important to be prepared with some questions on the main elements of PBL. My free planning guide includes these elements organized into tables to help make planning easy!

Topic- What topic is your project based around?

Content- What do you want your students to learn about the topic? What materials will they use?

Driving Question- What overall question do you want students to answer?

Inquiry & Choice- How will students learn about their topic? What choices will they make along the way?

Inquiry & choice is so important in project-based learning. In regular assignments, you're looking for all students to get one correct answer. In PBL, there are many ways that students can complete the project correctly. The variety allows for choice and free thinking!

Think about the process

Even though PBL is driven by the students, you will need to have structure in place. Think about the following:

How will students critique and revise?

What 21st century tools will they use?

Who will be the audience they present their final project to?

Decide how you'll handle classroom management

For teachers that are used to a very rigid classroom, project-based learning can be very scary. Be prepared to give your students more freedom, but take time to practice procedures. You're going to want procedures for accessing supplies, discussion, and actual work. You'll also need a procedure for early finishers or students that get stuck. Check out my blog post on classroom management for more information!

Plan carefully

Explicitly plan out how you will incorporate each element of PBL into your lesson. You can use the Project-Based Learning Planning Pages below [free]. Next, pace out each day's lesson. The closer you follow the PBL structure in your plan, the better the lesson will go.

You can learn how to explicitly plan out the entire PBL in the Implement Project Based Learning from Start to Finish eCourse.

Click to download for free!

Ready to Get Started?

Read the rest of the posts in this series!

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How to Plan Project-based Learning - Performing in Education

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Not sure what project-based learning is? Start by reading this post first! The most important part of PBL is choosing a topic that your students will be interested in. You can choose a general category (animals) or zoom in on a specific topic (penguins). It's up to you!

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She will walk you through how she made her EARTH DAY PBL lesson plan... it's about an hour long but a great watch!

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Building growth mindset does not have to be a challenge, especially when integrated with project based learning (or PBL). Stick around to learn more.

"Every time they (students) are pushed out of their comfort zone to learn something new and difficult, the neurons in the brain can form new stronger connections and over time, become smarter." - Carol Dweck, Stanford University psychologist

As I read and listen to Carol Dweck about building growth mindset, it's confirming to me that teaching in an environment the promotes project based learning improves growth mindset, and helps in changing from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.

Project based learning presents students with a real-world problem or challenge. Students use their knowledge and inquiry to become experts. Through the process of project based learning, students are deeply engaged, learn from and correct their mistakes, and process information through problem-solving and critical thinking. Even though teachers infuse grade level objectives into the project, there are no right or wrong answers as students attack the problem or challenge. They are generally graded by their effort, strategy, and process.

All 8 design elements of a project based learning unit are important in providing a climate of growth mindset. Here are a few suggestions that may help:

1. Challenge or problem

The real-life challenge or problem in a project based learning unit is presented to the whole class. Expectations are set high and all students (not just gifted) to work on and contribute to the project each day. The way you introduce the project can have a huge impact on the students' growth mindset. I try to find a great TED Talk, bring in a speaker, go on a field trip, or have a fun hands-on activity. By providing opportunities for differentiation and collaborative learning, students can achieve and still be challenged.

2. Sustained Inquiry

During sustained inquiry, students take more ownership of their learning. Learning from experts in the field and providing a variety of resources during the pbl unit is important. This is also a time when students may have roadblocks. With a growth mindset, they will have the right approach in overcoming the obstacles.

3. Critique and revision

Have periodic checks so students can revise and improve their work. Set up procedures for peer or self-evaluation and suggestions for improvement. I always worry about the chemistry of my collaborative groups. But, when I set standards for collaborative groups, my students have a more positive group experience.

4. Student Voice and Choice

With your guidance, students will have voice in how they conduct their research, create their final product. I love using choice boards during a pbl unit. In my Open a Food Truck, students decide what country their food truck will represent, along with a menu, and design of their truck.

5. Reflection

Giving students an opportunity for reflection can be done during the project and at the end. They can reflect on feelings and the project itself. In Saving the Monarchs, students reflect on issues that have caused the monarchs to disappear, on their work, and what citizens can do to help save them.

I've included a Growth mindset graphic organizer in my new product Open a Candy Store. Throughout the project, students will complete the growth mindset graphic organizers that are based on the design elements of project based learning and key areas of opposing mindsets. (I added a few more.)

Before you begin a project based learning unit, try reading either of these books to your class. What to do With a Problem? inspires all of us to look at a problem and find out why it's here. We can understand how problems can challenge us and discover how strong and capable we are. What to do With an Idea? encourages us to embrace our ideas and as our confidence grows, the idea grows, too. I think both of these books by Yobi Yamada set the stage for growth mindset with project based learning.

Now that you know how about building growth mindset with project based learning, what questions do you have? Ask below in the comments, and I'll do my best to answer them!

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Building Growth Mindset During Project Based Learning

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Building growth mindset does not have to be a challenge, especially when integrated with project based learning (or PBL). Stick around to learn more. "Every time they (students) are pushed out of their comfort zone to learn something new and difficult, the neurons in the brain can form new stronger connections and over time, become smarter."

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Always a great place to see what some of the other educators are doing!

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Tweets by edutopia

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My favorite site for ideas and sharing possibilities!

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Developing Natural Curiosity through Project-Based Learning is a practical guide that provides step-by-step instructions for PreK-3 teachers interested in embedding project-based learning (PBL) into their daily classroom routine. The book spells out the five steps teachers can use to create authentic PBL challenges for their learners and illustrates exactly what that looks like in an early childhood classroom.

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Language teacher here in Louisville!

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I recently started creating Integrated Performance Assessments to enhance my Project-Based Learning units and more accurately assess my students' abilities. To learn more about the process works, check out my Alphabet Soup page.

Below are some example assessments that I have put together for the beginning and end of different project units.

Spanish I
¿Cuál es tu pasión?
Spanish II
¿Cómo puedo hacer un cambio positivo en mi vida? ¿Cómo podemos inspirar a niños a leer en español? ¿Cómo podemos ganar trofeos en el festival de lenguajes? Follow PBL in the TL's board IPA Examples (Spanish PBL) on Pinterest.//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

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I recently started creating Integrated Performance Assessments to enhance my Project-Based Learning units and more accurately assess my students' abilities. To learn more about the process works, check out my Alphabet Soup page. Below are some example assessments that I have put together for the beginning and end of different project units.

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How can we do something similar to this?

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Project Based Learning for 3rd: Open a Fast Food Restaurant

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Great project-based learning (PBL) for third graders! Includes measurement, multiplication, division, and more! Fantastic for Common Core Math. Help your students practice real-life and math skills with this quality math project. It includes a teacher