Project-Based Learning Essentials & 21st Century Skills

One of my greatest growths as a teacher was when I shifted my planning and instruction to a project-based learning model. It is now one of my favorite things to share with other teachers when they are looking for a better way to engage students, increase rigor, and provide more authentic experiences for students. When I was first shifting to a PBL model, it was helpful to have goals or "PBL Essentials" to focus on for when planning projects. Using the Plate Tectonics Project as a model, I have (on several occasions) been invited to share the ways I have incorporated the PBL Essentials into an integrated earth science project for 8th graders. Below you will find a sample of slides that I used at a National Science Teacher's Association Conference, a CINSAM (Center for Integrative Natural Science and Mathematics) Conference, and a PBL Residency that I led through the Dayton Regional STEM School Training Center.

If you would like to see the student work associated with this project, visit my posts on 3D Plate Tectonics Models. To see how I modified this project in 2020 for virtual learning click HERE.