Educators Blog

STEM and Sports

What makes certain baseball bats hit the ball farther than others? What material is put inside elbow pads and knee pads to prevent injury? Why does the shape of a hockey skate blade matter? These are questions that young people ask who are involved […]

Authentic STEM Projects: Learning with a Purpose

Problem-solving is the heart of STEM investigations, but not just any old problem will do. STEM focuses on authentic projects that fuel students’ curiosity and investigative interests – problems that generate enthusiasm and a sense of empathy as […]

Simplifying STEM Instruction

In this 6-part series, I'll be sharing best practices and advice from educators that I interview in my fifteen-minute online Bam! Radio Podcast; Practical PBL Strategies. 

The Need for STEM

In my latest podcast, I interviewed Dr. Jacie Maslyk […]

Teaching Every Subject with an Eye on Career Readiness

To prepare our students for the next phase of their lives, my district is committed to helping all students have a relevant career experience prior to high school graduation. That authentic learning experience might be a job shadow, apprenticeship, […]

Practical PBL Strategies: 3 Ways to Improve PBL Assessments

In this 6-part series, I'll be sharing best practices and advice from educators that I interview in my fifteen-minute onlineBam! Radio Podcast; Practical PBL Strategies. 

My first guest, Ross Cooper, is a K-12 administrator and a nationally […]

Problem Solving and STEM

Throughout the course of the day, teachers ask students to solve lots of different problems. Some problems may be small, while others may require multiple steps. Sometimes problems can be solved independently, while others require some […]

How PBL Aligns with Effective Teaching Frameworks, Part 2: Planning

In my last post, I made the case for easing teachers into the shift from traditional teaching to project-based learning. I discussed the alignment between project-based teaching and the frameworks for effective teaching already used by many schools, […]

John Larmer Joins Defined

John Larmer brings two decades of PBL expertise and leadership to Defined 

NORTHBROOK, Illinois, November 9, 2021— Defined today announced that as it continues to build on its momentum as the leading provider of K-12 project-based learning (PBL) […]

Preparing Students to Thrive in a Modern Workforce

A middle school English teacher explains how she incorporates STEM skills like problem-solving, formulas, and tech into her word-filled classroom.

With report after report touting the American economy’s need for STEM workers, school districts […]

3 Keys to Improving Assessments

Educators, policymakers, parents, and others interested in improving the way we measure learning in today's schools need to examine three essential questions: 1) What really matters in a contemporary education? 2) How should we assess those things […]