An Introduction to Project-Based Learning

By Pete BrigerCaliber Schools offers a free, nonselective college preparatory education to Bay Area students. Its public charter schools strive to provide an innovative, modern learning experience, emphasizing the importance of technology and utilizing project-based learning (PBL) strategies in their science and social studies curriculum.

The project-based learning curriculum aims to inspire a lifelong passion for education by giving students the opportunity to explore pertinent real-world problems. Faced with authentic challenges that may relate to their environment, the community, or their daily lives, students draw on their critical thinking skills to develop solutions that are applicable outside the classroom. PBL models drive students to master core curriculum standards through investigation and discovery rather than traditional instruction and repetition. The student-driven curriculum drives teamwork and collaboration, and while the teacher plays the role of guide and facilitator, students make decisions and conclusions on their own. PBL strategies also incorporate multifaceted assessment, in which teachers evaluate students progress on an ongoing basis and encourage self-assessment and revision.

Research has shown that the unique, experiential education offered by PBL models helps to increase information retention and improves students test performance. Additionally, it has been shown to boost teamwork and problem-solving skills while encouraging a positive attitude toward learning as a whole.