Introducing PBL21 - the next step in the evolution of project-based learning

Inquiry is a foundation of PBL21.

In May we shared with you our exciting discovery of Frog Jumping Day.  We also discussed the many possibilities for a 21st century, project-based curriculum based upon that holiday, and provided you with a number of excellent resources.

Project-based learning, also known as PBL, is finally gaining traction once again (after a long exile caused by the implementation of NCLB). 

As this new found popularity of PBL has grown a variety of PBL models have emerged, developed by an array of organizations, publishers of educational products and services, and educational consultants.  

These programs represent a wide range of quality;  many are little more than "paint by number" activities. For example, students are not required - maybe I should say that students do not have an opportunity - to do any high level thinking, and do not develop any 21st century skills other than the ability to follow a simplistic set of directions.  Opportunities to develop creativity, problem-solving, innovation, adaptability, leadership, initiative, entrepreneurialism, curiosity and imagination - all critical 21st century survival skills - are absent. (See Tony Wagner, The Global Achievement Gap)  

We analyzed PBL units designed, or offered as exemplars, by several of the major (or more well-known) providers of products and services related to PBL.  We found that while some of these are excellent, the majority do not meet our criteria for truly 21st century, high-level PBL curriculum.   We believe that our model actually takes PBL to the next level and into the realm of authentic, 21st century education.

When we realized this, PBL21 was born.  We designated our model of project-based learning as PBL21 due to its full alignment to, and integration of, the critical attributes of 21st century education.  

The two compass roses we developed:  1.)  Critical Attributes of 21st Century Education, and 2.) Multiple Literacies for the 21st Century, illustrate our criteria and define our standards for excellence in 21st century education. These two simple tools, directly supported by the 7 Survival Skills of the 21st Century, developed by Tony Wagner, help us ensure that all the criteria for 21st century education are built into the PBL21 curriculum.

The final criterion for creating authentic 21st century education - or perhaps, more correctly, the first criterion - is a learning environment designed to support the new paradigm of education in the 21st century.  This includes the intentional design of three critical facets of the learning environment - the Physical Environment (see our page on Fielding Nair), the Emotional Environment and the Academic Environment.  We will be dedicating a lot of time to the 21st Century Learning Environment in this series.  


PBL21 - a Series of Discussions

In this series we will share our vision, our paradigm, of 21st century education in general, and of Project-Based Learning, in particular.  We will analyze what works and what doesn't.  

We will discuss the "whys" and "hows" of ensuring that the standards are not only learned, but learned at very high levels.  We will have a discussion about teachers' expectations of their students.   In our view, if a teacher assigns a student a low grade, that teacher is saying two things to the student:  "You do not have to learn this." and "You are not smart."  That is unacceptable.

In a properly designed learning environment every student will be motivated to learn at high levels, has confidence in his ability to succeed, and will receive the necessary support to succeed.

We will offer guidance on how to design a learning environment that is most conducive to learning - the Physical Environment, the Emotional Environment and then the Academic Environment.  Each of these must be carefully and intentionally designed.

We will outline the ways in which we differ from other providers and explain why we do things the way we do - explaining why our methods are extremely successful.  And we will provide the supporting research.

An example of Authentic, Performance-Based Assessment in PBL21:

A 12-member jury found Miss Curly Pig guilty of attempted wolf cooking in 2nd District Court on Monday. The trial was covered by the local newspaper.

Central Union High School’s David Armenta delivers his opening statement for the prosecution Thursday during the second night of the Imperial County Mock Trial at the Imperial County Superior Court in El Centro.

Mock trials - in a real courtroom - with a real judge!  There is no better way to learn about our judicial system!  There are many excellent online resources for mock trials at the elementary, secondary and university levels.   See the Classroom Law Project for resources for mock trials.

Activity for you:  Think!   Which of the criteria in the 2 compass roses and the 7 Survival Skills of the 21st century are embedded in a mock trial - in a real courtroom with a real judge?   This is actually a great Green Thinking Hat exercise for a professional development session or for PLCs!  (Green Thinking Hat - the hat for creativity and brainstorming.  You'll learn about it and use it at the workshop.)  


Using a Compass, not a Map - the guiding principles of PBL21

There are eight Critical Attributes of 21st Century Education:

1.  Integrated and Interdisciplinary Curriculum
2.  Global Classrooms, Globalization
3.  21st Century Skills
4.  The 3 R's - Relevant, Rigorous and Real World
5.  Adapting to and Creating Personal and Social Change
6.  Project-Based and Research-Driven (students' research)
7.  Student-Centered (this includes Personalized)
8.  Integration of Technologies and Multimedia

We selected eight Multiple Literacies for the 21st Century which we deemed as the most important to focus on in our curriculum and instruction.  This is by no means a complete list.

1.  Arts and Creativity
2.  Information and Cyberliteracy (Digital Literacy)
3.  Ecoliteracy
4.  Health and Physical Fitness Literacy
5.  Social/Emotional Literacies
6.  Media Literacy
7.  Financial Literacy
8.  Global Competencies and Multicultural Literacy

7 Survival Skills of the 21st Century by Tony Wagner of Harvard University.

1.  Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
2.  Collaboration Across Networks and Leading by Influence
3.  Agility and Adaptability
4.  Initiative and Entrepreneurship
5.  Effective Oral and Written Communication
6.  Accessing and Analyzing Information
7.  Curiosity and Imagination

We have unit planning rubrics and templates as well. We enjoy sharing with educators just how simple this process can actually be, and by the end of our workshop teachers will have created their own, personalized PBL21 unit complete with all the classroom strategies and tools needed to support student learning.