Project-based learning (PBL) is an educational trend that helps students practice skills in direct ways. As students tackle the steps they need to complete a project, they learn academic and interpersonal skills that prepare them for life outside of the classroom. PBL mimics the type of work adults do in their daily lives such as running a household, planning for home renovations or even searching for a job. A project can be any set of related tasks that lead to a final product and promote learning.
During PBL, students try to solve a problem or answer a complex question for an extended period. PBL differs from problem solving in that it unfolds over the long-term, more problems arise along the way, there is not one right answer and there are multiple ways to approach the issue.
PBL helps students develop critical thinking skills alongside content knowledge. Projects also require creativity and communication. Moreover, because the project leads to authentic work, a PBL curriculum highly engages students. These three steps may be a good start towards implementing PBL in the classroom.