As teachers, we all inevitably hear this same complaint at some point from students: “When are we ever going to actually use this?”
PBL is an instructional approach that takes that question to heart by connecting content to an authentic application or challenge. If we are going to talk about area and perimeter, then let’s apply those formulas to architectural design; if we are going to study representative democracy, then let’s craft campaigns and host class elections. Students retain more of what they learn when they apply that learning across varying contexts (transfer).
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PBL: Real World Connection Overview
An introductory slide deck that discusses engaging students by expanding learning beyond the classroom.
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PBL: UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals offer a wide variety of connections between urgent, relevant global issues and classroom content.
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PBL: World’s Largest Lesson
Explore U.N. SDG resources through the World’s Largest Lesson.
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PBL: Teach SDGs
The U.N. SDGs offer such a bounty of project ideas that this organization offers resources to teach the SDGs.
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