At the center of any well-designed project is the student learning of academic content and skill development. When PBL is done well it teaches students the important content standards, concepts, and in-depth understandings that are fundamental to school subject areas and academic disciplines. Through well-designed PBL lessons and units, students learn how to apply knowledge to the real world, and use it to solve problems, answer complex questions, and create high-quality products.
Although content knowledge and conceptual understandings are important they are not enough in today’s world. Research as demonstrated that people need to be able to think critically and solve problems, work well with others, and manage themselves effectively in school and college, in the modern workplace, and as well-rounded citizens. These kinds of competencies are called “success skills,” sometimes often referred to as “21st Century Skills” or “College and Career Readiness Skills.”
These skills are just as critically important for students, but can only be taught through the acquisition of content knowledge and understanding. For example, critical thinking skills are abstract and can't be taught in isolation from subject matter; students gain these skills by thinking critically about math, science, history, English, career/tech subjects, and so on. They are an embedded skill within content knowledge and understanding.
Thus, the importance of planning around the content standards and 21st Century skills will provide students with the essential concepts and understandings needed to dig deep into subjects to solve problems, answer complex questions, create high-quality products, and apply that knowledge to real world topics while at the same time develop those critical success skills.
Adapted from the BIE article: Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements.
PBL & Academic Standards
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PBL & 21st Century Skills Resources
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PBL & ISTE Standards
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