Three years deep into my practise as an educator with the Project Based Learning philosophy as my main teaching method. I am not sure if I am qualified to write enough about the topic, but I will share what I know.
Empowering students is the first descriptor for Project Based Learning. It really is difficult for an educator to relinquish control to their students, but that is one way students can be empowered.
Another facet of Project Based Learning is it needs to be authentic and related to real life, not just through the soft skills pieces (soft skills are collaboration, critical thinking skills, and independent endevour). The project should be related to the world in someway. For example, the students in room 414 are creating a poetry cafe. They wrote the poems, designed the space, and wrote pieces of marketing material. Read more about this project in detail here.
Next up is the Driving Question. This part of the project is the most important; consider it the heart of the project. A DQ needs to be authentic, pose a real world problem, and hint at or include a soft skillset in order to accomplish. An educator should hang the driving question up in their classroom, and constantly reference it when students need guidance.
Project Based Learning must have a public audience for the final presentation. Adding an audience ups the stakes of the project, students are more likely to prepare for something that they present in front of their peers. I am not just talking about an audience of the class, invite other classes to see your project presentations, have an expert visit and offer feedback on the project.
Drafting and revision is another huge piece of Project Based Learning. Work must be offered critique, and revamped in light of kind, specific, and helpful feedback.
There you have it! I have been teaching Project Based Learning for 3 years now, and have worked in a pure Project Based Learning international school (we had no curricular standards). Many people and educators confuse PBL, see my article on what PBL is not.
