Over 25 Links Uncovering Project Based Learning Resources On The Web

Welcome to this first in a series of PBL Mania Posts. For the next few weeks I am celebrating Project Based Learning by hosting a webinar at Edtech Leaders Online, and by presenting a PBL session at the NICE Conference in Chicago. In this post I will introduce you to some awesome places on the web containing some of the very best PBL resources.  Before reading,  please take a moment to subscribe to this 21centuryedtech Blog by email or RSS and also give me a follow on Twitter at mjgormans.  You will not want to miss this series or future posts involving STEM, Flipping the Classroom, Technology Integration, Common Core, and 21st Century Skills,  So Sign Up Now! As always… thanks and have a great week.  – Mike Gorman (21centuryedtech)

Welcome to the land of PBL knowledge. I searched the internet for some of the very finest links leading you to some of the best resources regarding PBL. I start our journey with what I consider  the mother lode of PBL resources at the BUCK Institute (BIE). After all…BIE is a world leader in PBL.

BIE – BUCK Institute

BIE – Also known as the BUCK Institute for Learning. Check out this site for activities, videos, handouts, and research. BIE is the mother lode of PBL and its site is one of the best. You can also contact BIE for professional development needs. Here are some highlights to explore inside this site.

BIE Videos – What Is PBL Video – A great collection of videos that demonstrate PBL and its best practices. PBL Example Projects – Are you looking for some project ideas… watch these videos to learn even more.  How to do PBL – Perhaps you are looking for various ways to work PBL into your class, subject, school, or district. Great information is found here.

BIE Tools – PBL Project Search – Here you will find a collection of 450 proven lesson plans to set any PBL desire into action. Look at the database found on the right hand side of the page.

BIE PBL Research Library  – Here you will find a wonderful collection of research summaries, full papers, and presentation materials.  These provide evidence for PBL effectiveness and provide knowledge of effective PBL practices.

BIE PBL Do IT Your-Self Kit – BIE has developed this Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Tutorial based on the PBL Toolkit books and highlights from the popular PBL 101 Workshop. The kit provides easy to read and watch, to-the-point advice about designing your project, along with some tools to help you do it well.

BIE FreeBies – What a wonderful collection of documents perfect for PBL. Included are over 20 resource document to make your PBL life just a little easier.

BIE Electronic Project Planner – This is an awesome place for educators to electronically create their own PBL lessons using a unique digital form. Not only can teachers create, but can also store in the BIE cloud.

West Virginia Teach 21 PBL

West Virginia Department of Education Teach 21 – The Project-Based Learning designs on this website were created by West Virginia teachers who worked with the WVDE Office of Instruction through participation in the Teacher Leadership Institute, the Secondary PBL project, content-specific professional development in mathematics, and the Model Schools and Classrooms project. As they continue to work with teachers across the state , West Virginia DOE will continue to post new PBL designs and tools to this site.

West Virginia PBL Project Data Base – This is a wonderful site where teachers can search through the subjects of reading, language arts, math, science, social studies, dance, visual arts, theater, and music. You can select from grade two all the way through grade twelve. These are PBL projects made by teachers for teachers!

West Virginia PBL Tools – A great set of management tools that are used in the Project Based Learning plans on Teach 21.  You will find rubrics, checklists, task management charts, learning logs and other documents that will help your PBL planning and delivery.  Most of the documents were created by West Virginia teachers and used in the PBL activities on Teach 21.  Other documents were created and published on the Novel Approach PBL website, which is no longer on the internet.  WV was given permission by the creator of the site to continue using these PBL documents.

Learning Reviews

Learning Reviews – This website claims to connect kids to learning on the web. It really connects kids to awesome, engaging, rigorous, and relevant projects. It points to numerous websites on the internet that house some great PBL possibilities. Be sure to check out all of the subjects and grade levels.

Here are more than 30 websites with free PBL examples, guidance, rubrics, and templates.  To see project-based learning lessons sorted by subject go to:

• PBL Language Arts Projects by grade level
• PBL Science Lesson Ideas by topic
• PBL Math Project Ideas by topic
• PBL Social Studies Project Ideas by grade level

Edutopia

Edutopia – A premier site for “what works on education”. A must visit for anyone considering transformation and real child-centered learning. Edutopia is wonderful resource of outstanding articles, research, video, and activities. The link provided takes you to the Project Based Learning Site of Edutopia. Let’s spend a moment and take a closer look. First the main PBL page has several must see videos that help explain the process.

Edutopia.org’s Project-Based Learning Professional Development Guide is divided into two parts. Part One is a guided process, designed to give participants a brief introduction to project-based learning (PBL), and answers the questions “Why is PBL important?”, “What is PBL about?”, and“How does PBL work?”  Part Two contains readings and experimental PBL.  These activities are outlined in the Workshop Activities section. You will also find links to examples from the Edutopia.org video library of PBL in action at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The Resources for PBL page includes a PowerPoint presentation (including presenter notes).  You will also find recommended websites, books, and additional videos to learn more about PBL in this section

The Rest

PBL Online – Another PBL site that works as a cooperative effort of BIE, Boise State University, and Edutopia.

4teachers – Home of  age-appropriate, customizable project checklists for written reports, multimedia projects, oral presentations, and science projects.

Intel – While Intel is a large company… this link points to a division that focuses on PBL. Intel is worth a visit for some great ideas and resources.

New Tech Network – New Tech is an outstanding group of high schools that are dedicated to PBL in the curriculum.

High Tech High School – High Tech is another high school network growing across the United States using PBL as a model for reform.

Global Schoolhouse – Whether you’re just starting out, or ready for advanced levels — this tutorial will help you to implement collaborative, project-based learning on the Internet.

Project Foundry – Any school investigating PBL must take a look. It is the last of my Land Of PBL only because it does carry a cost. Project Foundry is an online learning management and student portfolio system that allows innovative educators to scale authentic, integrated, individualized learning. It really works well in a connected online environment. You will find that this fee-based system includes integration with online tools such as Google Apps and Moodle.

Thanks for joining me and for learning about this 21^st century learning tool. Join me in future weeks as together we continue this series on PBL Mania. After that, discover more posts devoted to 21st century education including such topics as Flipped Classrooms, Project Based Learning, Assessing 21st century skills, technology integration, web resources, and digital literacy.  I enjoy learning from all of you. Also, remember to subscribe to this 21centuryedtech  Blog by RSS or email and follow me on twitter at mjgormans. I also appreciate your sharing of this post and any retweets and enjoy your journey through  the land of PBL on the web. Have a great week! – Mike Gorman (21centuryedtech)