What is it? 
PBL is a teaching & learning strategy that engages

students in complex activities; 

requiring several

steps focusing on development on a product or performance.  It requires students to organize their activities, 

conduct research, solve problems, and explore

authentic problems in collaborative

structures with a great degree of independence.

Student Benefits 

Linking  the standards together across 

disciplines provides a reason for a student to master them.  Concepts are no longer taught in isolation. Students acquire the ability to 

function in complex thinking environments that reflect work environment of the 21st century.        

1. Allows for a variety of learning styles  

2. "Real" world oriented - learning has value 

beyond the demonstrated competence of the 

learner  

3. Risk-free environment - provides positive 

feedback and allow choice  

4. Encourages the use of higher order thinking 

skills and learning concepts as well as basic facts  

5. Utilizes hands-on approaches  

6. Provides for in-depth understanding  

7. Accessible for all learners  

8. Utilizes various modes of communication  

9. Assessment is congruent with instruction, i.e. 

performance-based  

10. Students are responsible for their own learning  

11. Students have ownership of their learning within 

the curriculum  

12. Projects promote meaningful learning, 

connecting new learning to students' past 

performances  

13. Learning utilizes real time data - investigating 

data and drawing conclusions  

14. The learning process is valued as well as the 

learning project  

15. Learning cuts across curricular areas - 

multidisciplinary in nature  

16. Teacher is a facilitator of learning  

17. Student self-assessment of learning is 

encouraged

How students are assessed?

Because projects place students in a hands-on demonstration of the knowledge, 

skills, and attitudes necessary for them to 

master, authentic assessment is a natural 

option. Teachers can design assessment 

instruments such as structured 

observations, checklists, rubrics, and 

portfolios to match the activities the 

students will use to demonstrate content mastery.

Created by: 

Ana 

Anna Marie Treinen, Gretchen Noble, Chaya Ryan, Crystal 

Azizi   

Bringing students into the 21st century.   

Works Cited: 

http://www.cord.org/project-based-learning/ 

http://www.rmcdenver.com/useguide/pbl.htm