Project-based learning encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and communication skills, and helps boost student engagement and ownership. But it can be complicated to balance student choice and agency with effective learning outcomes.

Our K-12 coaching leaders are here to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of project-based learning, as well as practical ways to implement this work in classrooms.

Teaching Today

Unpacking Project-Based Learning

In this episode, children dictate their own original stories to me and I write them down. 

Story Writing & Potty Words

Students of Monta Vista High School's American Studies Class (2015) wrote the script for these short radio news segments on current events related to war and veteran issues. Groups researched their current event/issue, then collaboratively wrote a script featuring "guests" who are students portraying real sources from news stories surrounding these issues. The guests' quotations were required to be actual statements made by those individuals.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Brian Williams

Students in Monta Vista High School's American Studies class (2014) interviewed 21 veterans from the Cupertino and surrounding communities and edited short audio or video stories. These are the audio stories they recorded. There are two versions of each interview: a shorter, edited version and the full interview.

John Buenz - Edited 3 Of 3

Howard Olson - Edited

Henry Molloy- Edited

George Tscharner - Edited

Mr. Thom's Period 4 Science Class GMO Song. Students created the music and lyrics and performed the song using LoopLabs and Garage Band.

We Know You're Bluffin'

In episode 63, Michael & Dan discuss a project-based learning approach to government class - using simulations - with Jane Lo. Jane's article "Adolescents Developing Civic Identities: Sociocultural Perspectives on Simulations and Role-Play in a Civic Classroom" was recently published by Theory & Research in Social Education.

Episode 63: Civic Simulations In The Classroom with Jane Lo

The works here were produced by junior students in American Studies at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, Calif.

Visions of Education is an education podcast where education professor Dan Krutka and high school social studies teacher Michael Milton have conversations with educators to discuss their big ideas in education. VoE also partners with the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and associated groups to provide the latest from classroom teachers, education, professors, and researchers on social studies education.

Beauty in the Dark is the ongoing documentation space of my time spent with young children in Chicago, Illinois and other spaces around the United States and the world. 

Teaching Today is brought to you by The Center for Professional Education of Teachers (CPET) at Teachers College, Columbia University.

In conversation with teachers, researchers, and school leaders, we’re dedicated to breaking down the problems, policies, and promising practices that define teaching. Uniting theory and practice, CPET promotes rigorous and relevant scholarship, and is committed to making excellent education accessible worldwide.

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