What Is PBL?

A Project-Based Learning unit differs from just a project primarily by incorporating Buck Institute for Education's Essential Elements:
 

• Significant Content
• 21st Century Skills
• Public audience
• In-depth inquiry
• Driving question
• Revision & reflection
• Voice & choice
• Need-to-know

As language teachers striving to maximize comprehensible input, time spent in the target language, as well as exposure to target cultures, our task is somewhat more complicated than that of our colleagues who implement this approach to authentic learning in the L1. Don & Laura have collected resources specifically for language teachers here:

Project-Based Learning in World Languages wiki

PBL in the TL Livebinder

PBL in the TL FAQ

PBL Project Examples

LangCamp Diigo List

2013 LangCamp PBL Page

How do I get a project started?

1. Choose a theme, whether from a textbook, from your community, or from students' expressed interests.
2. Formulate a Driving Question: "How can we as _______  create _______  for _______  in order to _______  ."
3. Brainstorm relevant vocabulary students will need to communicate about the topic and create a list of 15-25 words to start with, perhaps as a word wall.
4. Isolate no more than 3 key structures (conjugations, phrases, etc.) needed to communicate clearly about the topic. 
5. Curate relevant, level appropriate/accessible authentic resources, whether with Pinterest, Storify, or Diigo Lists. 
6. Develop an Entry Event that captures students' attention, whether through guest speaker, video, role play, or letter.

As for the essential elements, for novices especially, you may consider postponing the public audience, in-depth inquiry, and revision and reflection (at least in the target language) until after the first project so you can ease students into PBL procedures without overwhelming them.

Unit Ideas

Pirate Travels (French, Household objects?)

DRIVING QUESTION:

VOCABULARY:

STRUCTURES:

AUTHENTIC RESOURCES:

ENTRY EVENT:

Remembering Loved Ones (Spanish, Day of the Dead)

DRIVING QUESTION:

VOCABULARY:

STRUCTURES:

AUTHENTIC RESOURCES:

ENTRY EVENT:

Cultural Heritage Restaurant (Any, Food)

DRIVING QUESTION:

VOCABULARY:

STRUCTURES:

AUTHENTIC RESOURCES:

ENTRY EVENT:

Virtual Museum/Community Tours (Any, Art/history)

DRIVING QUESTION:

VOCABULARY:

STRUCTURES:

AUTHENTIC RESOURCES:

ENTRY EVENT:

Healthy Habits (Any, Food/activities)

DRIVING QUESTION:

VOCABULARY:

STRUCTURES:

AUTHENTIC RESOURCES:

ENTRY EVENT:

The Next Great Invention (Any, Household objects/activities)

DRIVING QUESTION:

VOCABULARY:

STRUCTURES:

AUTHENTIC RESOURCES:

ENTRY EVENT: