The material on this page is adapted from material developed by Dr. Candice Wilson, founder of the Impactful PBL Network.
1. Identify Your Students' Learning Goals
These may be campus-wide learning outcomes or specific for the program or course. Consider a mix of goals that are skill-based in addition to content-based. Learn more about how to develop learning goals.
2. Map the Scenario and Create a Driving Question
Chose and interesting topic and connect the driving question that will guide students' learning process and draft a plot to provide a background to make the project more interesting. Some guidance on developing a project scenario:
- It should contain a realistic and relevant challenging question or problem that can have multiple solutions. It should be authentic, connecting to the students' world.
- It should be connected to academic content that is essential for them completing the task.
- It should stimulate discussion and research, build curiosity, and inspire students to ask questions.
- Examples
- Designing a new form of government (or democracy, specifically) that addresses some perceived shortcoming of existing democratic forms (partisanship, non-functioning checks-and-balances, etc.)
- Launching a profitable business with actual documentation of real-world business metrics: profit, loss, cost control, etc. (depending on the nature of the product, service, or platform)
- Analyzing the five most popular social media platforms for teens, then predict and design a new platform based on existing trends and past trajectory of change
3. Plan Student Assessments
Use various assessment strategies to measure students’ mastery of the content as well as their development of skills, which inevitably includes their creativity, critical thinking, and ability to create a solution to a problem. Learn more about assessment options you might consider.
4. Attract Students' Attention
Brainstorm engaging ways to introduce the problem or challenge to students in order to get them excited about the PBL experience. Be clear about why they are doing the activity, what they will be doing and how they will be doing it.
- In this example, an instructor created a trailer to introduce a project dealing with totalitarianism and moral dilemmas.
- Setting students up with case-studies can be a great way to set the scene while possibly tying the content in with a relevant and relatable world problem.
- Introduce PBL basics
5. Create Learning Experiences
Draft lessons to guide students’ learning of the content. Plan project tasks and milestones. Key elements include:
- At what point should students research their solution to their driving question?
- When will students create their product or practice for sharing with an audience?
- When planning lessons, think about the method of instruction?
6. Finalize Showcase Agenda
Brainstorm how students will exhibit, display, or share their public product with an authentic audience. Consider the following:
- How will students showcase what they know?
- Who will the target audience be?
- When and where will it occur?