The driving question is one of the most difficult design elements of PBL. It must be open-ended, not too broad, and interesting for the students. Lesson 3 involves the students in creating a driving question, but you may need to take their ideas and mold it into a workable driving question. The driving question usually has a question starter, states the issues or challenge, and states the audience. It can also state the product, but doesn't need to. Product decisions will be made later in the unit.
Sample driving question:
How can we teach the effects of erosion at our local pond to the rest of the school?
How can we inform our community about the dangers of zebra mussels (local invasive species)?
Where are all of the salamanders (native species that used to be present in larger numbers) and how can we protect them?
Is the water safe enough for people to go swimming?
Why do people litter and how can we convince/teach people not to litter at our local pond?
Where did all of this algae come from? Is it safe, and what can we do about it?
How can we as engineers design and build a fishing platform so native plants don't get trampled by people using the pond?
Overview: Driving Question