You are here: Home > Project Based Learning > Handbook: Table of Contents Aug 28, 2008

Handbook: Table of Contents

The new PBL Handbook presents a systematic framework for the design of Project Based Learning. The table of contents has been made available here:

I. INTRODUCTION TO PROJECT BASED LEARNING
• A Brief History Of PBL
• Defining Standards-Focused PBL
• The Benefits of PBL
• PBL In the Classroom
• Coverage Verses "Uncoverage"
• Are Your Students Capable?
• Your Style and Skills
• PBL and Your School
Read Introduction online

II. DESIGNING AND PLANNING SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS
A. Begin with the End in Mind
1. Develop a Project Idea
2. Decide the Scope of the Project
3. Select Standards
4. Incorporate Simultaneous Outcomes
5. Work from Project Design Criteria
6. Create the Optimal Learning Environment

IDEA BANK
  • PROJECT IDEAS
  • -Mapping Your Community
  • PROJECT OUTCOMES
  • -Identifying Skills
  • -The SCANS Skills and Competencies
  • -The Skills Necessary for Success in the Knowledge Age
  • -The enGauge 21st-Century Skills
  • -Habits of Mind
  • PROJECT DESIGN
  • -The Six A’s—Criteria for Designing Projects

B. Craft the Driving Question
1. Guidelines For The Driving Question
2. Refining The Driving Question

IDEA BANK
  • EXAMPLES OF DRIVING QUESTIONS
  • -History
  • -Humanities/Interdisciplinary
  • -English
  • -Art
  • -Geography
  • -Economics
  • -Government
  • -Science
  • -Math

C. Plan the Assessment
1. Align Products with Outcomes
2. Know What to Assess
3. Use Rubrics

IDEA BANK
  • -Examples of Culminating Products
  • -Examples of Multiple Products
  • -Examples of Artifacts
  • -Advantages and Disadvantages of Assessment Methods
  • -Using Bloom's Taxonomy to Write Rubrics
  • -An Example of Categories of Performance and Criteria

  • RUBRIC EXAMPLES
  • -A Political Studies Project
  • -Oral Presentation I
  • -Oral Presentation II
  • -Research Paper
  • -Critical Thinking
  • -Peer Collaboration and Teamwork

  • CREATING RUBRICS
  • -Creating a Rubric for Accessing Information
  • -Creating a Rubric for Selecting Information
  • -Creating a Rubric for Processing Information
  • -Creating a Rubric for Composing a Presentation
  • -Creating a Rubric for Making a Presentation
  • -Creating a Rubric for Individual Task Management
  • -Creating a Rubric for Individual Time Management
  • -Creating a Rubric for Group Task and Time Management
  • -Creating a Rubric for Group Process

  • OTHER HELPFUL FORMS
  • -Project Grading Worksheet
  • -Blank Rubric
         Download Rubrics

D. Map the Project
1. Organize Tasks and Activities
2. Decide How to Launch the Project
3. Gather Resources
4. Draw a "Storyboard"

IDEA BANK
  • Project Activities and Tasks
  • -Examples of Project Activities
  • -Scaffolding Ideas
  • -Sample Entry Document
  • -Project Resources Form

E. Manage the Process
1. Share Project Goals with Students
2. Use Problem-Solving Tools
3. Use Checkpoints and Milestones
4. Plan for Evaluation and Reflection

IDEA BANK
  • PLANNING
  • -Sample Letter to Parents
  • -Tuning Protocol
  • IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS
  • -Student Weekly Planning Sheet
  • -Student Planning Brief
  • -Student Learning Log
  • -Student Investigation Brief
  • -Student Product Brief
  • -Student Presentation Brief
  • -Research Log
  • -Project Milestones
  • -Progress Report Following an Investigation
  • GROUPS
  • -Grouping Strategies
  • -Group Observation Checklist
  • -Group Contribution Self-Assessment
  • -Group Learning Log
  • EVALUATION AND REFLECTION
  • -The Fishbowl Method
  • -End-of-Project Self-Assessment


III. IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS
A. Project Examples

1. The Subtle Media Manipulation Project
  A four- to six-week project from an 11th-grade English class in which students research subcultures and create a media presentation.
2. The Hispanic Diabetes Education Project
  A three-week 7th-grade science and technology project designed to have students research the effects of diabetes on local Hispanic residents and create an educational video on prevention and awareness of diabetes.
3. The Up To Par Project
  A nine-day project in geometry for 9th and 10th graders.
4. The Shutesbury Water Project
  A yearlong science project conducted by 6th graders in a rural area of Massachusetts involving water testing and ecological analysis.
5. The Coming to California Project
  A twelve-week interdisciplinary United States history and English project for 11th and 12th graders. The project focused on immigration into California and included a class mosaic as a product.

B. What Do PBL Teachers Say?
1. Begin with the End in Mind
2. Craft the Driving Question
3. Plan the Assessment
4. Map the Project
5. Manage the Process
6. Acknowledgements

C. Project Planning Form
1. Begin with the End in Mind
2. Craft the Driving Question
3. Plan the Assessment
4. Map the Project
5. Manage the Process
Download Planning Form