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A Review of Project Based Learning (2000) (Prepared for The Autodesk Foundation)

John W. Thomas

Thomas, J.W. (2000).  Prepared for The Autodesk Foundation, San Rafael, CA.
This review was prepared for The Autodesk Foundation and examines research related to a teaching and learning model popularly referred to as "Project-Based Learning" (PBL). All of the research on Project-Based Learning has taken place in the past ten years and most of it in just the last few years. Since there is not a large body of PBL research, the review is inclusive rather than selective

The review covers eight topics:

• A definition of Project-Based Learning 
• Underpinnings of PBL research and practice 
• Evaluative research: research on the effectiveness of PBL
• The role of student characteristics in PBL 
• Implementation research: challenges associated with enacting PBL 
• Intervention research: research on improving the effectiveness of PBL 
• Conclusions 
• Future directions for PBL research