Project Based Teaching: How to Create Rigorous and Engaging Learning Experiences

by Suzie Boss, John Larmer

It's no secret that in today's complex world, students face unparalleled demands as they prepare for college, careers, and active citizenship. However, those demands won't be met without a fundamental shift from traditional, teacher-centered instruction toward innovative, student-centered teaching and learning. For schools ready to make such a shift, project-based learning (PBL) offers a proven framework to help students be better equipped to tackle future challenges. Project Based Teachers encourage active questioning, curiosity, and peer learning; create learning environments in which every student has a voice; and have a mastery of content but are also comfortable responding to students' questions by saying, "I don’t know. Let's find out together." In this book, Suzie Boss and John Larmer build on the framework for Gold Standard PBL originally presented in Setting the Standard for Project Based Learning and explore the seven practices integral to Project Based Teaching: For each practice, the authors present a wide range of practical strategies and include teachers' reflections about and suggestions from their classroom experiences. This book and a related series of free videos provide a detailed look at what's happening in PBL classrooms from the perspective of the Project Based Teacher. Let's find out together. A copublication of ASCD and Buck Institute for Education (BIE).

Genres: Teaching, Education, Nonfiction, Professional Development

208 pages, Paperback

Published September 20, 2018

Reviews

[adeservingporcupine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not really helpful. Perhaps if you are a brand new teacher who has no idea about aligning standards, backwards planning, conferencing, or teaching, this would help you. After a year of not always successful PBL, this offered me very little help in making my projects better. It was also filled with fluff, and instead of going from planning to implementation, divided up the skills needed for PBL into separate chapters, so that you’re reading about coaching students at the end instead of near the beginning. I’m annoyed that I wasted my time on this one. Two stars because I got one good idea: a project wall that evolves with the project and you can roll up at the end.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this helpful and clearly written volume, the authors explain how the familiar principles and practices of constructivist pedagogies can be effectively utilized with the framework of project-based teaching and learning.

Pre-service teachers, early career teachers, and veterans new to PBL will benefit from this book. The authors clearly describe the process of designing and facilitating a project-based approach to instruction by grounding the strategy upon sound instructional theory—creating a supportive, collaborative classroom culture; aligning student learning outcomes with standards; integrating strong elements of student choice and agency; managing, scaffolding, and assessing student activities; and promoting reflection. Furthermore, the PBL framework cultivates authentic knowledge and learning that will empower students to independently transfer their skills to new and unfamiliar contexts as they formulate questions and design their own inquiry and research projects. Perhaps most refreshingly, the authors convey their passion for the value of PBL without lapsing into the almost fanatical tone that plagues some advocates of specific teaching and learning theories that present themselves as educational panaceas. Boss and Larmer understand that PBL must be used in conjunction with a variety of other strategies to differentiate instruction that best suits a specific community of learners, and they provide abundant resources to help readers adapt PBL for their own subjects, classrooms, and grade levels.

I’m eager to explore the possibilities for using PBL in my own teaching, and I recommend this book to all educators who are interested in diversifying and enriching their own pedagogy.

[Rebecca Dartnall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group read for our high school's Tech Innovation team this fall - finally finished the last chapters and while parts of the book reflected my own teaching practices in the classroom, thus reassuringly familiar ... when I was an English/History teacher, it did define in much more detail what a true Project Based Learning model looks like, must incorporate to succeed, etc. The anecdotal examples from PBL teachers kept the pedagogy from becoming too dry... the suggested rubrics can be a jumping off point for our teachers for sure. Loved that PBL builds on essential questions- they call 'em "driving question(s) & with all my grad research on the role of questions/student curiosity, I wholeheartedly concur this approach to students' learning can be beneficial.... messy, but beneficial. And maybe exactly what we need to transition to in our 21st century schools.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an introduction to the practice of Project Based Teaching/Project Based Learning, Suzie Boss's book of the same name works well. I'm a big believer in PBL and have seen students rise to the occasion over the years with increased motivation and opportunities for thinking as well as demonstrating knowledge and understanding. I read this book this year for in a PLC at my current employer. I enjoyed it just fine, but I do think it's a better book for beginners than for teachers who have some experience and prior training--I attended a Buck Institute PBL training six or seven years ago--who may feel that it doesn't offer much they haven't already learned. That's no fault of the book itself or its author. It only means that Project Based Teaching was less useful for me in 2025 than it would have been in 2018 when it was first released.

[Richard Grebenc · Rating 5 out of 5]

In preparing to do a more robust version of PBL this upcoming academic year I read this pretty much straight through in one day after reading the "Setting the Standard..." book. The authors do a fine job in explaining in detail each phase of Gold Standard PBL with plenty of examples along the way keeping it interesting and engaging.

It is clear that one needs to put this into practice for a number of years before becoming truly proficient at PBL. The authors sympathize and provide encouragement frequently. In fact, the appendix actually more or less tells the novice, experienced, and expert what they should expect for each phase of the process.

A handy manual to plan from and refer to as the teacher puts together his PBL plan.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly the most complete explanation of PBL I’ve read so far. Most explanations of PBL are vague, lacking detail or underlying philosophy. This book, while still lacking important facets of what I believe should be present in any inquiry approach to learning, provides enough to get started and is thoroughly backed up by research.

[Joseph Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fairly easy read that throws a lot of different strategies and thoughts at you. A lot of the advice is good for teachers looking to get started or even go deeper into PBL.

Although, it also gives a ton more books for an educator to read to gain more information. This left me feeling like I didnt get as much information as I should have from this book.

[Andria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, lots of great examples from multiple experiences. Lots of ideas to try. Would be interesting to read a book on a year in the life of a pbl classroom. That would give a thorough understanding of what its like. Right now i just feel like i have bits and pieces.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggled to see how this differed from any of the other Buck Institute books that are heavy on theory but lite on the day-to-day realities of what PBL looks like. Had a few great protocols to add to repertoire but not nearly helpful enough to make PBL a reality for me, yet.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book outlines the criteria that must be in place to meet the researched based gold standard for design and learning. The book was very helpful - coupled with videos and forms, I have been able to outline my first project.

[Erin McDonnell-Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would be a good overview/introduction to anyone unfamiliar with PBL but it's VERY brief in its descriptions. This would be a hard resource to use without details and supports.

[Dana Zett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall it informative. A lot to take in, but great for the direction that education is headed towards.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very similar to the International Baccalaureate model.

[Alanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the way this book broke down the lessons and provided insight into ways to the make lesson your own.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent information, but I am overwhelmed at the idea of implementing PBL in the classroom. I hope I have the courage and opportunity to try it someday though.

[Barbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good “starter” resource—easy to follow, understand, and get going. Those more experienced might want to look for something that goes a bit more in-depth.

[Veronica F · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some great ideas for starting PBL. I was hoping for more tips and fewer stories, but still some great information.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good resource of pbl

[Suha · Rating 3 out of 5]

it'll feel overwhelming if you have not started practicing the PBL in your classroom yet.
honestly, I've never finished it.