What’s the Difference Between Projects and Project-Based?

There’s a difference between ‘constructing castles’ and engaging in a deep, meaningful ‘project-based experience.’ 

One lasts for a weekend. The other, several weeks; and sometimes long beyond the expiration date.

As learning experience designers, there are three questions we need to ask when designing ‘project-based’ experiences:

1. Have I provided my students agency and purpose?
2. Were there multiple opportunities for feedback and reflection?
3. Was there an authentic question and audience for students to share their work?

Learn more questions to ask.

In my medieval castle project, while I had a choice of what castle to build, I had little agency in how do demonstrate my overall learning, and zero purpose for constructing a castle in the first place (other than that it was fun).

And with only a weekend to build it, I had zero opportunities for feedback and reflection. 

Finally, my castle build was guided by a packet of instructions, not an authentic question around deeper issues in Medieval Europe; or an authentic audience to share it with.

Are you hoping to design more meaningful, deep learning experience? 

Here are some more SIMPLE questions and tips to consider from your #1 PBL Coach.