Here we are again with another series of posts where we are trying to figure out what each of these terms are and aren’t and they relate to how we teach. Over the next few weeks we will look at these three terms and include practical ways you can implement them into your classroom. I promise this though, it will take some work to set up any of these learning styles in your classroom. Problem Based Learning, Project Based Learning and/or Challenge-Based Learning helps students develop skills for being 21^st Century Learners. 

To start each post, we will define each of these terms and then apply them to the classroom and what that looks like.  

Project-Based Learning	Problem-Based Learning	Challenge-Based Learning
Project Based Learning (PBL) is the ongoing act of learning about different subjects simultaneously. This is achieved by guiding students to identify, through research, a real-world problem (local to global) developing its solution using evidence to support the claim and presenting the solution through a multimedia approach based in a set of 21st-century tools.	Problem-Based Learning (PBL or PrBL) is a student-centered pedagogy in which students learn about a subject through the experience of solving an open-ended problem found in trigger material. The PBL process does not focus on problem solving with a defined solution, but it allows for the development of other desirable skills and attributes	Challenge Based Learning (CBL) is a framework designed to improve learning and organizational behavior around authentic learning experiences that encourage learners to leverage the technology they use in their daily lives.

Now that we have that taken care of, is it any clearer to you? No? Let’s continue!  

Project-Based Learning:

This is the one we are most familiar with. It’s also one that gets distorted because so many people focus on the outcome and not the process of which students gain their knowledge. Well put together PBL projects solve a real-world problems and issues. No more problems like Johnny goes to the store and buys 240 watermelons for the 35-people coming to his party, how many watermelons will each person get? The answer to this problem is a lot, each person gets a lot of watermelon.  

Within PBL, a real-world problem could be as local or global as you make it, the possibilities are endless. During class time students collaborate with each other, assess their knowledge, have meaningful discussion which ends up producing something that can be used in solving said problem. An important component of PBL is having the students make a presentation to share their findings and make it applicable. Ultimately, no test is needed to see if the students retained the information because they’ve gained a deeper understanding. One article listed out different learning events that happen in PBL like this:  

Role-playing	Real-world scenarios	Blended writing genres
Multiple reading genres	Authentic assessments	Authentic audiences
Real-world expertise brought into the classroom	Units that assess multiple skills	Units that assess multiple skills
Units that require research and comprehension of multiple subjects	Student choice	Collaboration
Multiple methods of communication (writing, oral speaking, visual presentations, publishing, etc.)

When we think about benefits for Project Based Learning, it’s not just making their learning connected to the real world. Through the collaboration, students are gaining a deeper knowledge of the content they are working. When we think of the college and career ready skills our students need, Project-Based Learning provides many of the those skills our students need to succeed; whether they are going to college or jumping into a career. In his TED Talk, Daniel Pink states that people are intrinsically motivated by three things: autonomy, mastery, and purpose. These three things can help prepare students for the future irregardless of the choices they make.

Examples:

Check out these examples of Project-Based Learning happening out it the world! Many of these examples come from the Buck Institute for Education.  

• Sample Project: Lost! This plan included elements connected to Earth Science, Math, PE, Research  
• Sample Project: Lending a Helping Hand Students become Microlenders featuring Math, English  
• Sample Project: The Ultimate Design Challenge Designed for Algebra II courses  
• Sample Project: A Home for Everyone This plan includes Research, Science, English  
• Sample Project: Student Farm This one is number 3 on their list, which includes lessons on Science, Social Studies, Math, Economics  
• Sample Project: Banned in America!! This plan includes elements of Language Arts, Social Studies and 21st Century Leadership Skills like Communicate Effectively and Persuasively, Manage Projects Effectively, Think Critically, Collaborate Productively 
• One idea that I came up with was to create a history movie about where you live, or even a documentary about something to do with the city, region or state you live in.    

Before you go, check out this awesome video on Project-Based Learning below, along with the resources for this week’s blog post, and next week we will jump into Problem Based Learning.  

Resources

• https://www.teachthought.com/project-based-learning/what-pbl-can-do-for-your-school-and-what-it-cant/ 
• http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/114017/chapters/Why-Project-Based-Learning%C2%A2.aspx 
• https://web.tech4learning.com/what-is-project-based-learning-and-why-use-it 
• https://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-guide-importance 
• https://www.schoology.com/blog/project-based-learning-pbl-benefits-examples-and-resources
• https://elearningindustry.com/project-based-learning-better-traditional-classroom 
• https://www.pblworks.org/why-project-based-learning 
• https://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/06/purposes-of-high-quality-pbl/ 

Let us know what you think in the comments below and come back next week as we dive into Problem-Based Learning!