PBLWorks

PBLWorks builds capacity among teachers, school leaders, and school system leaders to design, implement, and facilitate project-based learning (PBL), an instructional approach in which students work collaboratively to investigate rigorous, authentic, and complex challenges aligned to grade level and subject area standards. To achieve this, PBLWorks is designing and delivering Open Educational Resource (OER) PBL units, paired with professional development and enabled by an online platform. This grant supports strategic planning and the generation of an aligned performance assessment system for these PBL units. (Substrategy: Content Tools and Services)

The Institute proposes to develop a state-of-the-art open curriculum for Common Core standards in middle school math. Richer and far more applied than any math curriculum in the market, it will support all aspects of deeper learning.

The Buck Institute provides professional development to more than 10,000 teachers a year. Renewed support would further this initiative to create and evaluate an online portal for teacher professional development (PBLU.org) dedicated to project-based learning and Web technology. The emphasis of this tie-off grant is to improve instruction in deeper learning and the Common Core.