Educators Blog

Using PBL to Support an Inclusive Classroom Community

Project Based Learning (PBL) is an engaging method of teaching that prepares students for life beyond the classroom. In our current social climate, it is more important than ever for students to investigate their own personal and social identities. […]

Instructional Approaches that Foster Social-Emotional Development

Imagine you are preparing for an upcoming lesson. You plan to explore a topic with your students and have created a variety of resources for them to unpack. Students will research this topic using digital tools over a period of time. Then to […]

Powerful Learning Through PBL

Project-based learning (PBL) is something that I thought I knew a lot about a few years ago. As a language teacher, for many years I had been assigning my students to complete projects which I thought were authentic PBL. However, after some […]

Why Project-Based Learning Works

The phrase “voice and choice” has been used a lot in education. Sometimes these buzz words can lose value due to overuse, but within the context of project-based learning (PBL) this term is essential! PBL in the classroom can be an effective […]

Using Defined Learning to Support Teachers with High-Quality PBL Professional Learning

When Angelina Rowden, principal at Sunrise School, says, “Our school is our community” she means both literally and figuratively. The school, which serves students in grades pre-k through 8 is 50 miles south of St. Louis and the only business in […]

How to Teach Project-Based Learning in a Virtual Classroom

When COVID-19 forced us to adjust learning environments, we knew student engagement might hang in the balance. As school leaders, we chose to believe the circumstances presented a huge opportunity to think outside the box, to change instruction for […]

Introduce Middle School Career Exploration via Project-Based Learning

Student engagement has long been the focus of educators and administrators everywhere. We want to connect with our students. We want to make an impact, to prepare students for the future.

When COVID-19 forced us to adjust learning environments, […]

Games to Engage Elementary Students

As we begin classes and a new year, it is a perfect time to plan for the future. As educators, we are constantly encouraging our students to try new activities to develop skills. We need to model that as adults. According to neuroscientists, any […]

North Carolina School District Gives STEM some STEAM

The data speaks for itself in Greene County, North Carolina, but it’s only part of the story. The real story comes from the district’s response to remote learning, and, most importantly, according to district leaders, the feedback the district is […]

Winter STEM Ideas

Stuck inside? During the cold months of winter, it is easy to get bogged down by the weather, gray skies, and cold temperatures. Whether we are at home or in school, we can engage learners in meaningful STEM learning that reflects the winter months.