Project Based Learning Strategies and Tools

Hours: 24 / Access Length: 180 Days / Delivery: Online, Self-Paced

Course Overview:

This course will help you understand what project-based learning is (and what it is not). You will explore examples of PBL and review what the research has to say on the effectiveness of this approach. You will move to on explore how to plan your own project based learning experiences for your classroom. As the course progresses, you will review key elements to managing PBL with your students. As more and more schools today work to implement more project-based learning, you will also find out how you can not only be ahead of the curve but also take on a leadership role. 

Students will:

• Understand what project-based learning is and is not
• Review examples of project-based learning done at the highest levels
• Examine how to design PBL experiences in their own classroom and beyond 

Course Outline:

Lesson 1: Why Project Based Learning?

This first lesson will focus on an understanding of what project-based learning (PBL) is and what it is not. You will examine how PBL benefits students, teachers and schools.

Lesson 2: What is Gold Standard PBL?

In lesson two, you will look back at how PBL was developed. You will examine how gold standard PBL is a mixture of teaching innovations and instructional methodologies. You will see how PBL is a combination of best practices from all aspects of teaching.

Lesson 3: What Does the Research Say About PBL?

Lesson three moves on to an examination of the research surrounding PBL. You will explore the evidence that supports project-based learning and the factors that contribute to its effectiveness.

Lesson 4: Designing a Project

In our fourth lesson, you will begin to look at how you design an effective PBL project. A well thought out design process will be laid out for you as you work to create a project students will enjoy and that will succeed in meeting your class objectives.

Lesson 5: Managing a Project

Lesson five is all about managing a PBL project once it has been designed. There are many implementation details to plan and this lesson will help you understand what those are and the best strategies for success.

Lesson 6: Becoming a PBL Leader

In our last lesson, you will explore how you can take what you now know about PBL back to your school and district. You will examine field-tested strategies to help guide others as, together, work to implement widespread PBL efforts.

All necessary materials are included.

System Requirements:

Internet Connectivity Requirements:

• Cable, Fiber, DSL, or LEO Satellite (i.e. Starlink) internet with speeds of at least 10mb/sec download and 5mb/sec upload are recommended for the best experience.

NOTE: While cellular hotspots may allow access to our courses, users may experience connectivity issues by trying to access our learning management system.  This is due to the potential high download and upload latency of cellular connections.   Therefore, it is not recommended that students use a cellular hotspot as their primary way of accessing their courses.

Hardware Requirements:

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 4 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher.  1920x1080 resolution is recommended for the best experience.
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone for Webinar or Live Online sessions.

Operating System Requirements:

• Windows 7 or higher.
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions
  

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

Web Browser Requirements:

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

Basic Software Requirements (These are recommendations of software to use):

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is described in the above course outline.