>>Teacher: Today we're going to start a new project.
>>Narrator: Teachers and their students have been doing projects since forever.
>>Students: Three, two, one.
>>Narrator: More and more are doing project-based learning.
So what's the difference?
>>Teacher: That's a great question.
>>Let's start off by reviewing.
>>Narrator: Projects are typically limited in scope and duration.
They're a good way for students to work with content they've already learned.
>>Teacher: Flip to the paper that says sundial.
>>Narrator: In project-based learning, students learn through the project.
>>Teacher: Interesting.
>>Narrator: They address a real-world problem, a driving question,
one that can't be googled and has no single right answer.
>>Teacher: We were talking about how can we prepare
for Atlanta's change in weather?
>>Narrator: Students have voice and choice in PBL,
some input into how they'll answer the driving question.
>>Teacher: Does anybody think they might have some ideas?
>>Narrator: So they gain ownership of their learning.
>>Teacher: So those questions led to our investigation.
>>Narrator: They collaborate in a process of sustained inquiry,
lasting more than a few days.
>>Teacher: We've got a whole lot of work to do.
>>Narrator: They reflect on their learning through discussions,
formative assessments and critiques of their peers' work.
>>Teacher: We are going to take a look at one of your friend's work today.
>>Narrator: And then revise their work, based on those reflections.
>>Student: Now let's see it. >>Okay, there we go, we got it.
>>Student: High five.
>>Narrator: The final product is shared with an audience beyond the classroom.
Maybe that's professionals in a related field.
>>Woman: I appreciated how thoughtfully you responded.
>>Narrator: Or it could be the kids in the class next door.
When students spend an hour exploring the four forces of flight
by crafting a Mars lander out of paper, that's a project.
When they spend a month simulating a Mars landing, analyzing the math
and physics at work, and discussing their work
with real aerospace engineers...
>>Engineer: And it sounds like you've done a little bit
of testing to see if that works.
>>Narrator: That's project-based learning.
>>Teacher: [speaks Italian] >>Students: [speak Italian]
>>Narrator: Research shows that rigorous PBL can result in higher engagement
and deeper content knowledge.
>>Teacher: You're rocking it, keep it up, okay.
>>Narrator: Learn more about project-based learning at Edutopia.org