Project-Based Learning (PBL)
Key concepts and practices that define and guide effective project-based learning experiences.
1. Authentic Audience
Definition: An authentic audience in PBL refers to real-world individuals or groups—beyond the classroom—who view, critique, or benefit from students’ work.
Classroom Example: Instead of submitting a report only to their teacher, students present their environmental research findings to local city council members.
Citation: Larmer, J., & Mergendoller, J. R. (2010). Seven Essentials for Project-Based Learning. *Educational Leadership*, 68(1), 34–37.
2. Critique and Revision
Definition: This refers to structured opportunities for students to receive and offer feedback to improve the quality of their work before final submission or presentation.
Classroom Example: Students conduct peer reviews of each other’s digital portfolios using a rubric to give constructive feedback, then revise accordingly.
Citation: Ron Berger. (2003). *An Ethic of Excellence: Building a Culture of Craftsmanship with Students*. Heinemann.
3. Driving Question
Definition: A driving question is a central, open-ended query that guides the learning process and encourages sustained student inquiry.
Classroom Example: “How can we design a sustainable school lunch program for our campus?” prompts students to explore nutrition, logistics, and environmental impact.
Citation: Thomas, J. W. (2000). A Review of Research on Project-Based Learning. *The Autodesk Foundation*.
4. Entry Event
Definition: An entry event is a provocative experience, question, or scenario designed to launch a project and spark curiosity among students.
Classroom Example: Students watch a documentary about water scarcity to kick off a science project on water purification systems.
Citation: Buck Institute for Education. (2017). *Project design rubric*.
5. Inquiry-Based Learning
Definition: Inquiry-based learning emphasizes student questioning, exploration, and evidence-based reasoning as central to the learning process.
Classroom Example: Instead of being given a set of instructions, students design and conduct their own experiment to test local water quality.
Citation: Bell, S. (2010). Project-Based Learning for the 21st Century: Skills for the Future. *The Clearing House*, 83(2), 39–43.
6. Project Launch
Definition: The project launch is the official start of a PBL unit, often involving a clear introduction to the driving question, timeline, goals, and audience.
Classroom Example: A teacher stages a mock town hall debate to kick off a civics project, engaging students in the context of their research.
Citation: Boss, S., & Krauss, J. (2014). *Reinventing Project-Based Learning*. ISTE.
7. Project Tuning
Definition: Project tuning is a collaborative process where teachers and students give and receive structured feedback to improve a project plan or product before implementation.
Classroom Example: Students share their project ideas in small groups and receive warm/cool feedback using tuning protocols before finalizing their designs.
Citation: Allen, D., & Blythe, T. (2004). *The facilitator’s book of questions*. Teachers College Press.
8. Public Product
Definition: A public product is the final output of a project that is shared with an audience beyond the classroom, reinforcing accountability and relevance.
Classroom Example: Students design and publish infographics on local air pollution and distribute them at a community event.
Citation: Larmer, J., & Mergendoller, J. R. (2015). *Gold Standard PBL: Essential project design elements*. Buck Institute for Education.
9. Sustained Inquiry
Definition: Sustained inquiry is a prolonged, iterative process of questioning, researching, analyzing, and refining ideas or products over time within a project.
Classroom Example: Students collect data on school lunch waste over three weeks and modify their project solutions based on patterns they observe.
Citation: Buck Institute for Education. (2015). *Gold Standard PBL design elements*.
10. Voice and Choice
Definition: Voice and choice refer to the degree of autonomy students have in selecting topics, tools, team members, and presentation formats in a project.
Classroom Example: Students choose between making a podcast, website, or video documentary to present their project findings.
Citation: Larmer, J. (2018). What does student voice really mean in PBL? *PBLWorks*.
11. Collaboration
Definition: In PBL, collaboration refers to students working together in teams to achieve a common goal, sharing responsibilities, ideas, and resources to complete a project.
Classroom Example: A group of students divides tasks for researching different aspects of a local historical event, then combines their findings to create a collaborative digital exhibit.
Citation: Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (2009). *Framework for 21st century learning*.
12. Reflection
Definition: The process by which students think critically about their learning experiences, project processes, and outcomes, identifying what went well, what challenges arose, and what they would do differently next time.
Classroom Example: After presenting their project, students complete a reflection journal entry discussing their personal contributions, team dynamics, and key takeaways from the learning process.
Citation: Dewey, J. (1933). *How we think: A restatement of the relation of reflective thinking to the educative process*. D. C. Heath and Company.
13. Formative Assessment in PBL
Definition: Ongoing assessment practices used throughout a project to monitor student learning and provide timely, actionable feedback that helps students revise their work and improve their understanding.
Classroom Example: A teacher uses regular check-ins, peer feedback sessions, and draft reviews during a long-term research project to guide students’ progress and ensure they are on track.
Citation: Darling-Hammond, L., & Adamson, F. (Eds.). (2010). *Assessment of 21st century skills*. National Research Council.
14. Project-Based Learning (PBL) Design Elements
Definition: A set of criteria or components considered essential for high-quality PBL, often including a challenging problem or question, sustained inquiry, authenticity, student voice and choice, reflection, critique and revision, and a public product.
Classroom Example: A school’s PBL committee uses the “Gold Standard PBL” design elements (from PBLWorks/BIE) to ensure all new projects meet rigorous standards for student engagement and learning outcomes.
Citation: Buck Institute for Education. (2015). *Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements*.