Is PBL standards based?
PBL is no less or more standards based than any other form of instruction. However, we train our teachers to begin with standards when they design a project. We train our teachers to base their assessment on standards. We train our teachers to focus on “power standards” rather than breadth of coverage. We train our teachers to fill in the gaps made by the focus on power standards by using all the tools of traditional teaching: homework, class work, textbook review, lecture, etc. Ask yourself: Will my students score higher on standardized tests if they have a profound understanding of a dozen power standards as opposed to a superficial understanding of 87 sub-elements of those same standards?
