No, you're not doing PBL yet.

Dear fellow teacher,

We need to have a hard conversation. No, what you're doing is not actually Project-Based Learning. 

I know you've been trying to work with PBL for a while. But you're still lacking some of the fundamental elements that separate PBL from a normal project in school. 

I don't see: 

• Kids doing work that matters. Sure, there's some connection to the world outside of school, but your kids are not doing actual work that makes a difference. 

• A culture of drafting, feedback and quality work. You may be trying to give feedback from time to time, but kids are still often working with products that are "one and done" and (let's be honest) poor quality. 

• Experimentation and original thought. All your products are looking the same based on the recipe you've created for your kids. 

• Exhibitions that create meaning for kids. Parents come and see the work of their kids but it's unclear how much this actually matters to kids. 

• Learning and development. A lot of these products can be done in a day and aside from massive amounts of glitter, require very little from kids. 

• Alternative ways to assess learning. You're still valuing tests and assessments that tell us very little about development. 

Without these elements, there is little chance your kids will be empowered, feel motivated, learn by doing and have ownership over their learning and lives. The real potential of PBL is not possible to be realized without this. 

Maybe a consultant showed you a different version of PBL. Maybe you've given up a bit on pushing further because things are hard. 

But, no. You're not there yet. I'd prefer that you not refer to what you're doing as Project-Based Learning until you've really integrated the above points. 

(Honestly, please don't.)

But let me tell you what I do see...

• Collaborating with colleagues about actual teaching and learning. I see the many hours you're spending with other teachers working across subjects. Probably for the first time in your career. 

• Asking questions about why we've always done school the way we've done it. Looking at a weekly schedule and asking how it can be re-organized to fit the needs of learning... not the other way around. I see this takes an extreme amount of energy but that slowly you are asking more questions and challenging more ideas. 

• Finding ways to see your subject outside school. You've probably never been asked to do this before. If you're a career teacher like me, you likely don't even know how your content is used in the real-world. I see you making small steps towards understanding this even if it's still hard to get out there yourself. 

• Seeing yourself as a Maker. You're likely an academic. Deep in your subject. Connecting head-learning to hand-learning is probably not something you've done before. Creating a plan to support this, helping your kids, seeing value in creation... I see how you're trying to make these connections and how difficult it is to see this as part of your role now. 

• Feeling caught between a real desire to create more meaningful experiences for kids in school and living up to your professional task of passing tests and getting kids prepared for the next level. You're in a conflict most of the time and on any given day, either side wins out. 

• Having small conversations with colleagues over coffee in the staff-room about the value of Project-Based Learning. About how you can see the potential, how it's important even though it's hard. I hear how your colleagues talk. I hear how you are still an advocate. 

• Giving up control and creating space for kids to take ownership. It's a tough one for you. You've been trained from the beginning to value order, structure and instructional minutes. You may even feel anxious when you don't know what will happen. I see those small steps you're taking. The moments where you say "yes" to students and the moments where you panic and need to take back whatever control you feel you've lost. 

• Trying new approaches to teaching. I know you've just tried a Chalk Talk and a Socratic Seminar. I know last week you tried a Peer-Feedback session for the first time. I know none of these things feel like they've worked perfectly or how the consultant said they should. But I know you'll keep trying. 

• Feeling too much is on your plate. I know your strongest desire is to love your kids, create trusting relationships, design meaningful learning experiences... and yet the time and intention to do this feels impossible. I see those phone calls on your break to arrange field trips or organize Exhibitions because you think it's important. 

I want to say that although I am cautious about what I call "Project-Based Learning" and consider to be best practice, I know you are on the way. 

We are all on the way. 

Keep thinking, fighting, challenging, talking, sharing, learning by doing... 

Because that is what PBL really is. 

Love, 

Loni