Project-Based Learning
9 Elements
Project-Based Learning
- Lets students create a project from start to finish
- Gives students choices in how they work
- Helps students apply what they learn
- Boosts knowledge, skills, and attitudes
- Uses technology to research, create, and share work
Project-based learning is most powerful when it includes all 9 key elements.
In this presentation, we’ll explore each one and see how teachers can use them to help students create, collaborate, reflect, and share their learning in exciting ways.
9 Elements
Anchor
An anchor kicks off a project by capturing students’ interest and linking the work to real-life situations.
- Starts the project and grabs students’ attention
- Shows how the project connects to the real world
- Gives students a meaningful reason to get involved
- Examples: a news article, a video clip, a personal story, or something from students’ own experiences
Task
A task gives students a clear target and direction for their project, so they know what they need to achieve.
- Clarifies the expected outcome for the project
- Keeps students focused and organized throughout their work
- Can be set by the teacher or shaped with input from students
- Supports understanding with examples, instructions, rubrics, or guidance on where to start
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn"
- Benjamin Franklin
Directions
Give students clear guidance and help them stay focused on what matters.
- Shows students the steps to follow throughout the project
- Keeps students focused and prevents wasted time
- Explains how to approach the project and what to include
- Helps students make steady progress toward the final outcome
Diversity
Problem-solving
Ownership
Responsibility
Decision-making
Collaboration
Student Choices
Ingenuity
Self-direction
confidence
Exploration
Innovation
Creativity
Student Inquiry
Student inquiry puts learners in charge of exploring, researching, and evaluating information to complete their projects.
- Students actively ask questions and seek answers
- Research using books, articles, websites, and other sources
- Learn from teacher guidance and peer explanations
- Evaluate and use information to make project decisions
- Encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and independence
Collaboration & Teamwork
Builds communication, leadership, and accountability skills
Plan, gather information, and execute project steps together
Assign and manage responsibilities within the team
In project-based learning, students work together in groups to complete tasks, taking on different roles and responsibilities. They plan, gather information, and carry out project steps as a team, learning important communication and leadership skills. Students may receive both group and individual grades, and sometimes provide peer feedback, helping them develop accountability and teamwork skills.
Encouragement
Guidance
Clarification
Improvement
Support
Direction
Teacher Coaching & Feedback
Reflection
Problem-solving
Mentoring
Motivation
Evaluation
Student Reflection
Talk with your team about progress, challenges, and ways to work better together.
Write down your thoughts about the project, what went well, and what you would do differently.
Decide what actions to take to improve or complete the project successfully.
Reflect on your own contributions, skills gained, and areas to grow.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Title
Title
Next Steps
Title
Title
Journaling
Group Discussion
Self-Assessment
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Public Presentation
Presentations can be in the classroom or to a wider audience, including online, community groups, or local organizations. Students can use websites, blogs, newsletters, videos, or live events to share their projects. The key is finding a meaningful way to let others see and appreciate their learning.
what we learned
Project-Based Learning engages students in meaningful, hands-on projects that connect learning to the real world. Through nine key elements students build knowledge, creativity, and real-world skills.
Directions
Anchor
Task
Real-world project connection
Clear project goal
Guided next steps
inquiry
feedback
presentation
collaboration
student choice
reflection
Learning from experience
Share final product
Teamwork in action
Support and guidance
Freedom to decide
Student-led discovery
Why does this matter for your future as a teacher?
As an educator, implementing these nine elements gives students real ownership, stronger skills, and meaningful learning. Click to watch this video and see how student choice helps connect learning to life.
Reflection is a key part of project-based learning, helping students think about their progress and how they work individually and as a team. Both students and groups reflect at different stages of the project to improve their learning and performance.
The Elements
- Anchor
- Task
- Directions
- Student Choices
- Student Inquiry
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Teacher Coaching and Feedback
- Student Reflection
- Public Presentation
In project-based learning, teachers provide tasks and directions but should allow students to make choices about how to complete their work. These choices can include project steps, group roles, resources, and the format of the final product. In advanced projects, students may even select the type of project they want to pursue. Allowing these choices helps students develop creativity, innovation, and decision-making skills (Bender, 2012; Larmer & Mergendoller, 2010).
What is project-based learning?
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Transcript
Project-Based Learning
9 Elements
Project-Based Learning
Project-based learning is most powerful when it includes all 9 key elements.
In this presentation, we’ll explore each one and see how teachers can use them to help students create, collaborate, reflect, and share their learning in exciting ways.
9 Elements
Anchor
An anchor kicks off a project by capturing students’ interest and linking the work to real-life situations.
Task
A task gives students a clear target and direction for their project, so they know what they need to achieve.
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn"
- Benjamin Franklin
Directions
Give students clear guidance and help them stay focused on what matters.
Diversity
Problem-solving
Ownership
Responsibility
Decision-making
Collaboration
Student Choices
Ingenuity
Self-direction
confidence
Exploration
Innovation
Creativity
Student Inquiry
Student inquiry puts learners in charge of exploring, researching, and evaluating information to complete their projects.
Collaboration & Teamwork
Builds communication, leadership, and accountability skills
Plan, gather information, and execute project steps together
Assign and manage responsibilities within the team
In project-based learning, students work together in groups to complete tasks, taking on different roles and responsibilities. They plan, gather information, and carry out project steps as a team, learning important communication and leadership skills. Students may receive both group and individual grades, and sometimes provide peer feedback, helping them develop accountability and teamwork skills.
Encouragement
Guidance
Clarification
Improvement
Support
Direction
Teacher Coaching & Feedback
Reflection
Problem-solving
Mentoring
Motivation
Evaluation
Student Reflection
Talk with your team about progress, challenges, and ways to work better together.
Write down your thoughts about the project, what went well, and what you would do differently.
Decide what actions to take to improve or complete the project successfully.
Reflect on your own contributions, skills gained, and areas to grow.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Title
Title
Next Steps
Title
Title
Journaling
Group Discussion
Self-Assessment
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Public Presentation
Presentations can be in the classroom or to a wider audience, including online, community groups, or local organizations. Students can use websites, blogs, newsletters, videos, or live events to share their projects. The key is finding a meaningful way to let others see and appreciate their learning.
what we learned
Project-Based Learning engages students in meaningful, hands-on projects that connect learning to the real world. Through nine key elements students build knowledge, creativity, and real-world skills.
Directions
Anchor
Task
Real-world project connection
Clear project goal
Guided next steps
inquiry
feedback
presentation
collaboration
student choice
reflection
Learning from experience
Share final product
Teamwork in action
Support and guidance
Freedom to decide
Student-led discovery
Why does this matter for your future as a teacher? As an educator, implementing these nine elements gives students real ownership, stronger skills, and meaningful learning. Click to watch this video and see how student choice helps connect learning to life.
Reflection is a key part of project-based learning, helping students think about their progress and how they work individually and as a team. Both students and groups reflect at different stages of the project to improve their learning and performance.
The Elements
In project-based learning, teachers provide tasks and directions but should allow students to make choices about how to complete their work. These choices can include project steps, group roles, resources, and the format of the final product. In advanced projects, students may even select the type of project they want to pursue. Allowing these choices helps students develop creativity, innovation, and decision-making skills (Bender, 2012; Larmer & Mergendoller, 2010).
What is project-based learning?