PBL: Project-Based Learning: Digging Deeper

Learning Activity

Let’s take a look at project-based learning and the Common Core. Most states in the nation have adopted Common Core State Standards. Each state has made slight modifications to the Common Core State Standards; for state-specific Common Core Standards, visit your state department of education website.

The Common Core State Standards: 

• are reflect the knowledge and skills that students need for success in college and careers. 
• emphasize literacy across disciplines and prepare students for competing successfully in a global economy. 
• ensure consistent expectations regardless of a student’s zip code. 
• provide educators, parents, and students with a clear understanding of what students need to know and understand in order to achieve academic and career goals, 
• engage students in reading and evaluating more informational text.

The Standards address the strands of Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language. 

In Mathematics, there is a heavy emphasis on the Standards for Mathematical Practice, which requires students to experiment with tools and processes, apply abstract reasoning and critical thinking, and persevere in problem-solving in complex mathematical tasks. The student must be able to combine skills and processes to solve multi-step processes and solve word and modeling problems that may have many appropriate representations and approaches.

Assessments of the Common Core State Standards include multiple performance tasks, asking students to solve complex problems by designing their own processes. The English Language Arts Standards emphasize skillful research, formulating well-supported arguments, and anticipating differing perspectives. Communication, both written and oral, must weave together complex information into skillfully organized compositions. For more on Common Core assessments, see Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) and Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).

The Common Core State Standards also emphasize technology as a way to build knowledge and skills in Math, English Language and Arts. 

Resources

Common Core State Standards Initiative

The Ultimate PBL Resource Guide

Project-Based Learning Done Right: 10 Misconceptions Plus 10 Resources to Raise the PBL Bar