Project-Based Instruction

What is PBI?

PBI, also known as Project Based Instruction, is a tool that teachers can use to engage their students in the lesson. Students are able to relate what they are learning in the classroom with what they know from life experiences, their interests, and issues that are close to them. PBI allows students to create links relating their learning to their lives and the real-world experiences they have [1]. Teachers are able to rely on their students' to motivate their own learning when using PBI lessons. Students are able to develop their research skills, critical thinking, team work, and self-motivation while working on these projects. A key difference between PBI and common projects is that PBI allows for assessment of learning at various stages in the process of the completion of the project, not just at the end [2]. The organization of a PBI unit and each lesson is important as it serves a guide for students to determine and assess their own learning while also allowing teachers to assess their students. Most importantly, however, is that PBI allows for the opportunity for interdisciplinary learning. One project-based unit can relate various subjects to one topic, the use of various subjects can give a better and wider view and understanding on the topic covered. Overall, PBI is an opportunity for teachers and students to extend their understanding of what "learning" is to what it can be, extending learning from only relating to what happens in the classroom to what we see at home, in our neighborhoods, and nationwide.