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Measuring opportunity to learn in PBS: Predicting urban middle school students’ achievement

Phyllis Blumenfeld, Rosalind Kam, Sarah Gallagher, LeeAnn Sutherland & Robert Geier (University of Michigan)

This poster presents findings from a 7 year collaboration between University of Michigan and Detroit Public Schools. It presents findings concerning benefits in student achievement and motivation after use of a carefully designed and developed project based science (PBS) curriculum. The data shows that urban schools can implement PBL and realize benefits for diverse urban students when there is sufficient systemic effort and investment in curriculum and professional development. Special attention is given to the idea of "opportunity to learn" as a predictor of learning outcomes.