An Intro to Project Based Learning: Preparing Students for Tomorrow, Engaging Them Today

by John Larmer

Published by Buck Institute for Education (BIE) and authored by editor in chief John Larmer, this short, staple-bound 40-page color booklet explains Project Based Learning (PBL) for K-12 parents and other members of a school community such as school boards, school/district staff, business/community partners, and even older students. It is a unique product in the field and unlike BIE's other publications, which are aimed at teachers and other educators. This booklet will help educators build understanding and support for PBL in a school or district. An Intro to Project Based Preparing Students for Tomorrow, Engaging Them Today is written in an easy-to-read, jargon-free style and features colorful graphic design. It has sections on why PBL is important for today's K-12 students, what PBL is - with answers to FAQs about it - and what to expect at a school using PBL. Also included are powerful quotes from students and parents about the value of PBL, example projects from various subjects and grade levels, and links to websites and videos for more information.

40 pages, Staple Bound

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a brief introduction to project based learning. I don’t have many issue with the publication, my gripes lie more with the PBL concept and what it’s application realistically looks like in a modern American school. I do think the book replies heavily of the emotional weight of all the positive quotes scattered abundantly throughout the pages. Actually data and hard numbers are scarce, but broad claims of success are plentiful. Strikingly there is not a single down side to PBL mentioned, which makes this seem more like a propaganda leaflet than a toe dip into a new educational method.

The lengths schools will go to avoid Montessori. This is literally how middle and high school Montessori school function, and most of the principles are present in Montessori elementary classrooms.

All the revolutionary concepts are obvious; kids like hands on learning, connection concepts to the real world is more engaging and more effective, etc. Knowing the public school system it’s clear one reason it’s popular is that you can hide poor students in a group project. SEL is clearly woven into this. They compare the classroom to a workspace as if there aren’t people pulling more weight than others in the workplace.

It only comes up once, but the issue of some kids prefer to work on their own is brushed over, the unspoken implication being that it’s wrong to be individually minded and PBL teaches compliance with the will of the group.

[Alex Valencic · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read that introduces the reader to the basic concept and purpose of project-based learning. I would recommend to any school board or PTO members interested in knowing what's going on with PBL.