Gold Standard Project Based Learning
Key Knowledge & Understanding
Project enables students to uncover specific knowledge and essential understanding derived from content standards and cross-content opportunities.
Skills4theFuture
Working in a real-world context allows students to develop Skills4theFuture beyond the classroom, along with opportunities to work on a team.
Challenging Problem or Question
Real-world challenging problem or question, framed as a driving question and aligned to learning goals, compels students to explore many possible solutions of which no single answer is correct or “Google-able”.
Sustained Inquiry
Students generate need-to-know questions to guide them through extensive field based inquiry. Over time, students work through the Design & Innovation Process to research and explore solutions to driving question.
Autheticity
Authentic contexts and real-world challenges provide relevant experiences through which students’ personal interests and aspirations are honored. Students have opportunities to engage with adults in the community and/or field experts throughout the project.
Student Voice & Choice
Students have ample opportunity to take responsibility for significant choices impacting the project. Teacher provides minimal guidance in regards to choices such as resources to use, products to be created, use of time, organization, and questions to guide inquiry, giving way to student voice more often than not.
Reflection
Students and teachers engage deeply in ongoing thoughtful reflection during and after the project. Reflection guides subsequent choices regarding the project.
Critique & Revision
Throughout the project, students receive structured feedback about their ideas and products from peers, teachers, and outside experts to help inform revision and improvement during the process.
Public Product
A relevant outside audience will observe presentation of student ideas and/or product, with opportunities to interact with students by asking questions about the product, process, or learning. Students will have opportunities to work alongside adults in a relevant worksite.
Interdisciplinary Themes
Global Awareness
Financial, Economic, Business, and Entrepreneurial Literacy
Civic Literacy
Health Literacy
Environmental Literacy
Financial, Economic, Business, and Entrepreneurial Literacy
Civic Literacy
Health Literacy
Environmental Literacy