Sustainable Project-Based Learning

Book excerpt: This essential guide shares a five-step process for designing, implementing, and assessing sustainable project-based learning (SPBL) units while ensuring students gain surface-, deep-, and transfer-level knowledge. Brad Sever draws from his daily work as a practitioner to deliver practical strategies for creating meaningful learning experiences that join academic growth with social-emotional skill development—all supported by the power of professional learning communities. Use this book to help increase authentic learning for your students: Learn the benefits of project-based learning (PBL) and social-emotional learning (SEL) to student growth and academic achievement. Access a five-step process for planning, integrating, and sustaining a comprehensive SPBL framework in your curriculum. Receive reproducible tools and templates you can use independently or collaboratively to maximize student engagement and learning. Reflect with end-of-chapter questions to enhance your understanding of the content. Understand how to promote transfer learning skills through connections to real-world experiences. Contents: Introduction Part I: The What and Why of Sustainable Project-Based Learning Chapter 1: Defining Sustainable Project-Based Learning Chapter 2: Reviewing the Seven PBL Design Elements Chapter 3: Maintaining a Sustainable Relationship With Project-Based Learning Chapter 4: Integrating Social and Emotional Learning Into SPBL Units Part II: The How of Sustainable Project-Based Learning Chapter 5: Step 1 Planning the SBPL Unit Chapter 6: Step 2 Developing SPBL Assessments Chapter 7: Step 3 Establishing a Clear Goal for Student Learning Chapter 8: Step 4 Conducting Teacher Action Research Chapter 9: Step 5 Reflecting, Refining, and Celebrating Chapter 10: Transferring Learning Through Three Simultaneous Experiences Appendix A: Glossary of Key Terms Appendix B: Protocol Library Appendix C: Example SPBL Unit Plans References and Resources Index