A Beginners Guide to

Project-Based Learning

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Table of contents
What is PBL?���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3

PBL misconceptions�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4

How does project-based learning benefit students?������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5

6 Elements of high-quality project-based learning���������������������������������������������������������������������������������6

The PBL journey����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7

Want to learn more?�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������8

What is PBL?
Project-based learning (PBL) can sound like just another education acronym to add to our vocabulary.
It’s more than an acronym -- it’s a teaching method that is revolutionizing classrooms all over the world.

But what is project-based learning?

PBL is an inquiry-based approach that provides relevant,

real-world context for student learning.

It is a teaching method that allows students to propel their own learning. Students are able to choose
topics to study based on their passions and connect their findings to surrounding world. They work
collaboratively and share their learning with a relevant audience.

PBL is not just another education trend. This style of teaching and learning has transformed student
engagement and gives students the opportunity to take risks and grow as individuals.

Are you a seasoned PBL instructor? Great! This guide will be a refresher and resource to refer to
throughout your planning process.

Just starting out or hesitant about dipping your toes into the PBL world? Awesome! Continue on to the
next page to read about the most common misconceptions associated with project-based learning.

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PBL misconceptions
Some educators may be hesitant to implement PBL. Project-based learning can seem messy,
unorganized, and chaotic from the outside since there are so many different elements required. PBL
also has the reputation of being too much “fun” and not learning-centered because it does not mirror
conventional teaching methods.

This misconception is partly true — but PBL should be fun! Keeping topics entertaining motivates and
excites students to work on projects.

When planned correctly, PBL can be even more effective for

student engagement and comprehension than traditional
teaching methods.

A second misconception about project-based learning is that it doesn’t take much planning since
students are “teaching” themselves. It’s actually quite the opposite. PBL takes careful planning and
guidance to make sure students are on the right track and are reaching required learning benchmarks.

Now, you may be wondering, is implementing project-based learning in my class worth all the work? Read on
to discover the unique benefits PBL brings to the table.

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How does project-based
learning benefit students?
There are numerous benefits to project-based learning. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but
here are a few:

• Open-ended questions and prompts enable students to choose topics they want to explore.
• Choosing a subject of interest motivates students and gives their work more value.
• Selecting topics and ideas students are not familiar with helps them learn how to research and
differentiate reputable resources from non-reputable sources.
• Researching and connecting students’ topics to the real world creates a greater awareness of the
surrounding world.
• Working in teams and solving problems together gives students collaborative experience.
• While working on their projects, students are able to learn how to set goals and reach deadlines.
• Students take greater pride in their work by presenting their final projects to a relevant audience.

Now you may be thinking, I want to try out PBL! But how do I go about it? No worries, you are in the right
place. Discover how to formulate a successful PBL lesson on the next page.

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6 Elements of high-quality
project-based learning
PBL requires planning and forethought. Here are 6 must-have components for a successful, high-
quality PBL project.

1. Intellectual challenge and accomplishment

Projects should have the right balance of fun and challenging concepts. Aim to keep the
project idea/prompt fun to retain student engagement but also include challenging ideas
that require students to think critically.

2. Public product
Have students share their work with someone other than the teacher. PBL projects can be
presented to the community, school administrators or even professionals who relate to the
project topic. This makes students feel more valued because they aren’t just turning their
work into a teacher to be graded, but get to show off their work to a wide range of individuals.

3. Authenticity
Encourage students to seek solutions that can solve authentic, real-world challenges and
issues. This also involves allowing students to present their work to an authentic audience,
as stated in the previous point.

4. Collaboration
PBL provides students the opportunity to work together and learn how to solve complex
questions as a group. This also includes gaining experience on how to compromise and be
respectful of others opinions and decisions.

5. Project management
PBL allows students to practice goal setting, time management, meeting deadlines and
communicating with team members.

6. Reflection
Reflecting on a finished project allows students to evaluate how their work turned out.
This reflection process will help students understand how to work more efficiently on the
next project.

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The PBL journey
Integrating project-based learning into the classroom can be a daunting task. It will come with
roadblocks and issues at first. Don’t be discouraged! You will get the hang of project-based learning.
Practice makes perfect!

Get started!
Here are a few tips for success and potential PBL topics:

• Provide a list of trustworthy resources, search engines and articles for students to use.
This guidance allows the students to do research themselves while bypassing any non-reputable
sources and also save valuable time.
• Modified for age and grade, allow students to select their own project topics. Give older students
the option to choose a topic to study that aligns with their interests. For younger students, provide
a small selection of topics for them to pick from.
• Check in frequently with students to make sure they are on the right track. If students
are lost, help redirect them and encourage them in the work that they have accomplished so far.
• Be flexible. PBL is all about creativity and exploration. If you are halfway through a project and
discover a method or system that works better for your students, don’t be afraid to make a change.
A big part of creating a successful project includes being adaptable to change — for both students
and educators.

Topics to inspire your next

PBL assignment:

• Take your class on a field trip to a local

park, arboretum or nursery. Have
students study the plants and flowers.
Allow students to choose a plant
of their choice to research in depth
including the plant life cycle, the best
habitat and plant composition.
• Invite a member of the community
to speak to your classroom on a
localized issue or problem. These
subjects could include environmental
contamination, social injustice,
health initiatives, etc. Challenge your
students to brainstorm a solution to
the issue and have them present their
ideas to the community member.

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Want to learn more?
Discover more about PBL from seasoned educators:
go.participatelearning.com/pblguide1

Get more teaching resources on the Participate blog:

go.participatelearning.com/pblguide2