Gold Standard Project Design for Project Based Learning (PBL)
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Start
Copies of materials used in this program are available at the end of the training.
This training is for educational purposes only. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Fair Use Definition
Fair use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, research, teaching or scholarship. It provides for the legal, non-licensed citation or incorporation of copyrighted material in another author’s work under a four-factor balancing test.
Fair Use Disclaimer
Next
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Next
Objectives
The objectives of this training include:
- Define the elements of the Gold Standard in PBL;
- Compare a traditional project to one that follows the Gold Standard;
- Analyze a sample project to determine its alignment to the Gold Standard; and
- Practice applying an element of a Gold Standard to an existing classroom project.
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Next
Introduction
Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements. (n.d.). PBLWorks. https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl/gold-standard-project-design
Click here to begin
Next
Activate Prior Knowledge
Collaborative for Teaching & Learning. (2014, March 5). Project Based Learning [Video]. https://youtu.be/qNNff-hVg2s?si=H6ln4Gxt6DWXyVby. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://youtu.be/qNNff-hVg2s?si=H6ln4Gxt6DWXyVby
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Next
What it is?
Traditional learning is teacher-centered, meaning the instructor is the main source of knowledge. Students mainly receive information rather than actively shaping the learning process.
Key characteristics
- Lectures and direct instruction (teacher talks, students listen)
- Standardized curriculum (everyone learns the same material the same way)
- Textbooks and notes as primary resources
- Individual work over group collaboration
- Tests and quizzes to measure learning
Traditional project based learning
Next
Activate Prior Knowledge
Sample Project: Plan a Dream Vacation
Students are asked to plan a trip within a set budget.
Students use given numbers or do light research
Final product: Poster or slideshow showing their trip and total cost. What are the key elements of a traditional project?
Click here for an explanation of the key elements.
This image is AI generated using ChatGPT.
Traditional V
S Gold Standard
Challenging Problem or Question Sustained Inquiry Authenticity
Student Voice and Choice Critique, Revision Reflections Public Product
Task Content Focus Process
Student Choice Assessment None Classroom Product
Next
Click here for audio
Next
Activate Prior Knowledge
Edutopia. (2018, October 21). Projects and Project-Based Learning: What’s The Difference? Retrieved 1, 2026, from https://youtu.be/dhwuQU2-g5g?si=R-TR1cXpzxqEtcMj
Click here for audio
Next
Student Perspective
Traditional Project
“I’m completing an assignment.”
Gold Standard Project
“I’m doing work that actually matters.”
Click here for audio
Next
Knowledge Check
Instructions
Read the scenario for each question and select one of the options provided. If you choose the correct option, an explanation will be provided and you'll be prompted to the next screen. If you choose the incorrect option, an explanation will be provided and you'll be sent to the slide that contains the correct information. You will need to answer each question correctly in order to proceed with the training.
Knowledge Check
Scenario
Imagine you're a 9th grade ELA teacher trying to design a project for students to practice their research and citation skills for non-fiction reading.
Knowledge Check
Scenario
Students are creating a historical documentary for class.
Knowledge Check
Scenario
An English teacher assigns students to create persuasive campaigns about reducing plastic waste.
Next
Gold Standard Elements
Challenge Question or Problem
Sustained Inquiry
Authenticity
"The project is framed by a meaningful problem to be solved or a question to answer, at the appropriate level of challenge."
"Students engage in a rigorous, extended process of posing questions, finding resources, and applying information."
"The project involves real-world context, tasks and tools, quality standards, or impact, or the project speaks to personal concerns, interests, and issues in the students’ lives."
Click here for audio
Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements. (n.d.). PBLWorks. https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl/gold-standard-project-design
Next
Gold Standard Elements
Reflection
Student Voice & Choice
Public Product
Critique & Revision
"Students and teachers reflect on the learning, the effectiveness of their inquiry and project activities, the quality of student work, and obstacles that arise and strategies for overcoming them."
"Students make their project work public by sharing it with and explaining or presenting it to people beyond the classroom."
"Students give, receive, and apply feedback to improve their process and products."
"Students make some decisions about the project, including how they work and what they create, and express their own ideas in their own voice."
Click here for audio
Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements. (n.d.). PBLWorks. https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl/gold-standard-project-design
Next
Sample Project: Plan a Dream Vacation
Driving Question
Sustained Inquiry
Authenticity
Students work within a set budget, plan for a specific family, and use actual pricing, making the experience more relevant.
Students research real travel costs, compare options, calculate totals, and revise their plans as they go.
How can we design a realistic trip for a family that stays within a strict budget?
Click here for audio
Next
Sample Project: Plan a Dream Vacation
Reflection
Student Voice & Choice
Public Product
Critique & Revision
Students think about what worked, what didn’t, and how their decisions changed based on constraints and new information.
Students make key decisions about where to go, what priorities to set, and how to design a trip that fits their plan.
Students receive feedback on their plans, identify areas that don’t work, and revise to improve accuracy and feasibility.
Students present their final trip plan and explain their budgeting decisions to an audience beyond the teacher.
Click here for audio
Next
Final assesment
Instructions
Read each question and select the best option presented. If you choose the correct option, you'll be prompted to the next screen. If you choose the incorrect option, you'll be sent to the slide that contains the correct information. You will need to answer each question correctly in order to proceed with the training.
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Next
Applying the Gold Standard Elements
What About Your Projects?
How would a project you've designed or used compare to the Gold Standard of PBL? Use the checklist provided (click the image) to review and edit different elements as necessary. In the next section of the training, you'll be uploading your project design for peer feedback.
This image is AI generated using ChatGPT.
Essential Project Design Elements Checklist | MyPBLWorks. (n.d.). my.pblworks.org. https://my.pblworks.org/resource/document/pbl_essential_elements_checklist
Click here for audio
Next
Applying the Gold Standard Elements
Project Redesign Upload
Click the link to upload your revised project design. Be sure your name and email address are present in your document.
Click here for audio
Next
Applying the Gold Standard Elements
This image is AI generated using ChatGPT.
Peer Feedback
Click the picture to get access to the Project Design Rubric. Use the rubric to provide feedback to your peers. Submit your feedback to the Google Drive by clicking the "submit" button below.
Click here for audio
Project Design Rubric | MyPBLWorks. (n.d.). my.pblworks.org. https://my.pblworks.org/resource/document/project_design_rubric
Next
Wrap Up
The objectives of this training include:
- Define the elements of the Gold Standard in PBL;
- Compare a traditional project to one that follows the Gold Standard;
- Analyze a sample project to determine its alignment to the Gold Standard; and
- Practice applying an element of a Gold Standard to an existing classroom project.
Click here for audio
Next
Resources
Click the links for the resources used in this training
PBLWorks Edutopia Slide Deck Link
Next
References
Collaborative for Teaching & Learning. (2014, March 5). Project Based Learning [Video]. https://youtu.be/qNNff-hVg2s?si=H6ln4Gxt6DWXyVby. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://youtu.be/qNNff-hVg2s?si=H6ln4Gxt6DWXyVbyEdutopia. (2018, October 21). Projects and Project-Based Learning: What’s The Difference? Retrieved 1, 2026, from https://youtu.be/dhwuQU2-g5g?si=R-TR1cXpzxqEtcMjEssential Project Design Elements Checklist | MyPBLWorks. (n.d.). my.pblworks.org. https://my.pblworks.org/resource/document/pbl_essential_elements_checklistGold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements. (n.d.). PBLWorks. https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl/gold-standard-project-designProject Design Rubric | MyPBLWorks. (n.d.). my.pblworks.org. https://my.pblworks.org/resource/document/project_design_rubric
Questionnaire
Thank you very muchfor your attention
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Transcript
Gold Standard Project Design for Project Based Learning (PBL)
Click here for audio
Start
Copies of materials used in this program are available at the end of the training.
This training is for educational purposes only. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Fair Use Definition Fair use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, research, teaching or scholarship. It provides for the legal, non-licensed citation or incorporation of copyrighted material in another author’s work under a four-factor balancing test.
Fair Use Disclaimer
Next
Click here for audio
Next
Objectives
The objectives of this training include:
Click here for audio
Next
Introduction
Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements. (n.d.). PBLWorks. https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl/gold-standard-project-design
Click here to begin
Next
Activate Prior Knowledge
Collaborative for Teaching & Learning. (2014, March 5). Project Based Learning [Video]. https://youtu.be/qNNff-hVg2s?si=H6ln4Gxt6DWXyVby. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://youtu.be/qNNff-hVg2s?si=H6ln4Gxt6DWXyVby
Click here for audio
Next
What it is?
Traditional learning is teacher-centered, meaning the instructor is the main source of knowledge. Students mainly receive information rather than actively shaping the learning process.
Key characteristics
Traditional project based learning
Next
Activate Prior Knowledge
Sample Project: Plan a Dream Vacation
Students are asked to plan a trip within a set budget. Students use given numbers or do light research Final product: Poster or slideshow showing their trip and total cost. What are the key elements of a traditional project?
Click here for an explanation of the key elements.
This image is AI generated using ChatGPT.
Traditional V
S Gold Standard
Challenging Problem or Question Sustained Inquiry Authenticity Student Voice and Choice Critique, Revision Reflections Public Product
Task Content Focus Process Student Choice Assessment None Classroom Product
Next
Click here for audio
Next
Activate Prior Knowledge
Edutopia. (2018, October 21). Projects and Project-Based Learning: What’s The Difference? Retrieved 1, 2026, from https://youtu.be/dhwuQU2-g5g?si=R-TR1cXpzxqEtcMj
Click here for audio
Next
Student Perspective
Traditional Project
“I’m completing an assignment.”
Gold Standard Project
“I’m doing work that actually matters.”
Click here for audio
Next
Knowledge Check
Instructions
Read the scenario for each question and select one of the options provided. If you choose the correct option, an explanation will be provided and you'll be prompted to the next screen. If you choose the incorrect option, an explanation will be provided and you'll be sent to the slide that contains the correct information. You will need to answer each question correctly in order to proceed with the training.
Knowledge Check
Scenario
Imagine you're a 9th grade ELA teacher trying to design a project for students to practice their research and citation skills for non-fiction reading.
Knowledge Check
Scenario
Students are creating a historical documentary for class.
Knowledge Check
Scenario
An English teacher assigns students to create persuasive campaigns about reducing plastic waste.
Next
Gold Standard Elements
Challenge Question or Problem
Sustained Inquiry
Authenticity
"The project is framed by a meaningful problem to be solved or a question to answer, at the appropriate level of challenge."
"Students engage in a rigorous, extended process of posing questions, finding resources, and applying information."
"The project involves real-world context, tasks and tools, quality standards, or impact, or the project speaks to personal concerns, interests, and issues in the students’ lives."
Click here for audio
Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements. (n.d.). PBLWorks. https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl/gold-standard-project-design
Next
Gold Standard Elements
Reflection
Student Voice & Choice
Public Product
Critique & Revision
"Students and teachers reflect on the learning, the effectiveness of their inquiry and project activities, the quality of student work, and obstacles that arise and strategies for overcoming them."
"Students make their project work public by sharing it with and explaining or presenting it to people beyond the classroom."
"Students give, receive, and apply feedback to improve their process and products."
"Students make some decisions about the project, including how they work and what they create, and express their own ideas in their own voice."
Click here for audio
Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements. (n.d.). PBLWorks. https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl/gold-standard-project-design
Next
Sample Project: Plan a Dream Vacation
Driving Question
Sustained Inquiry
Authenticity
Students work within a set budget, plan for a specific family, and use actual pricing, making the experience more relevant.
Students research real travel costs, compare options, calculate totals, and revise their plans as they go.
How can we design a realistic trip for a family that stays within a strict budget?
Click here for audio
Next
Sample Project: Plan a Dream Vacation
Reflection
Student Voice & Choice
Public Product
Critique & Revision
Students think about what worked, what didn’t, and how their decisions changed based on constraints and new information.
Students make key decisions about where to go, what priorities to set, and how to design a trip that fits their plan.
Students receive feedback on their plans, identify areas that don’t work, and revise to improve accuracy and feasibility.
Students present their final trip plan and explain their budgeting decisions to an audience beyond the teacher.
Click here for audio
Next
Final assesment
Instructions
Read each question and select the best option presented. If you choose the correct option, you'll be prompted to the next screen. If you choose the incorrect option, you'll be sent to the slide that contains the correct information. You will need to answer each question correctly in order to proceed with the training.
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Next
Applying the Gold Standard Elements
What About Your Projects?
How would a project you've designed or used compare to the Gold Standard of PBL? Use the checklist provided (click the image) to review and edit different elements as necessary. In the next section of the training, you'll be uploading your project design for peer feedback.
This image is AI generated using ChatGPT.
Essential Project Design Elements Checklist | MyPBLWorks. (n.d.). my.pblworks.org. https://my.pblworks.org/resource/document/pbl_essential_elements_checklist
Click here for audio
Next
Applying the Gold Standard Elements
Project Redesign Upload
Click the link to upload your revised project design. Be sure your name and email address are present in your document.
Click here for audio
Next
Applying the Gold Standard Elements
This image is AI generated using ChatGPT.
Peer Feedback
Click the picture to get access to the Project Design Rubric. Use the rubric to provide feedback to your peers. Submit your feedback to the Google Drive by clicking the "submit" button below.
Click here for audio
Project Design Rubric | MyPBLWorks. (n.d.). my.pblworks.org. https://my.pblworks.org/resource/document/project_design_rubric
Next
Wrap Up
The objectives of this training include:
Click here for audio
Next
Resources
Click the links for the resources used in this training
PBLWorks Edutopia Slide Deck Link
Next
References
Collaborative for Teaching & Learning. (2014, March 5). Project Based Learning [Video]. https://youtu.be/qNNff-hVg2s?si=H6ln4Gxt6DWXyVby. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://youtu.be/qNNff-hVg2s?si=H6ln4Gxt6DWXyVbyEdutopia. (2018, October 21). Projects and Project-Based Learning: What’s The Difference? Retrieved 1, 2026, from https://youtu.be/dhwuQU2-g5g?si=R-TR1cXpzxqEtcMjEssential Project Design Elements Checklist | MyPBLWorks. (n.d.). my.pblworks.org. https://my.pblworks.org/resource/document/pbl_essential_elements_checklistGold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements. (n.d.). PBLWorks. https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl/gold-standard-project-designProject Design Rubric | MyPBLWorks. (n.d.). my.pblworks.org. https://my.pblworks.org/resource/document/project_design_rubric
Questionnaire
Thank you very muchfor your attention
Back to home