New ASCD Publication Sets New Standards for Project Based Learning

  • 06/10/15

Alexandria, Va. — ASCD released a new professional development publication, Setting the Standard for Project Based Learning: A Proven Approach to Rigorous Classroom Instruction, that explores project based learning and how to fully prepare students for college and career. Copublished with the Buck Institute for Education (BIE), this book provides a step-by-step process for how to create, implement, and assess projects that meet state standards, increase students’ motivation to learn, and offer a more satisfying experience for teachers.

Authors John Larmer, John Mergendoller, and Suzie Boss showcase a classroom-tested framework for the highest quality of project based learning, referred to as Gold Standard Project Based Learning. When teachers use this comprehensive, rigorous framework to plan instruction, they enable their students to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the real world, so they are better prepared for college, careers, and citizenship.

“Project based learning is gaining traction around the world, and a growing number of educators are recognizing the need for new approaches to teaching and learning in the 21st century,” said Larmer. “But projects can't just be hands-on activities, so in the book, we discuss design principles for a gold standard project—how to make it rigorous, align it to state standards, and include authenticity and student voice and choice. We want teachers to create a new standard for project based learning in their classrooms and create lasting experiences for students to excel in the real world."

The book shares examples from K–12 teachers in all content areas and offers advice on how school leaders can use project based learning in informal settings and implement the model systemwide.

Educators can order a print version of Setting the Standard for Project Based Learning: A Proven Approach to Rigorous Classroom Instruction from ASCD’s online store. ($20.95 for ASCD members; $27.95 for nonmembers)

To learn more about our books or to read sample chapters from these and other publications, visit www.ascd.org/books. For more information about ASCD, visit www.ascd.org.

Featured

  • Howard Community College President Joins National Research Council

    Howard Community College President Daria J. Willis was recently appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Research and Community College Trends and Issues, according to a news release.

  • California K–12 District Opens New Athletic Complex, Gym

    The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) in San Mateo, Calif., recently announced the completion of two new athletics facilities: a new gymnasium at Burlingame High School, and a new athletic training complex at San Mateo High School, according to a news release.

  • Inglewood Unified School District Breaks Ground on New High School

    The Inglewood Unified School District in Inglewood, Calif., recently broke ground on a new campus for Inglewood High School, according to a news release. The project has a budget of about $240 million, funding coming through bond proceeds from Measure I.

  • Designing School Spaces for A++ Performance

    In recent years, the educational world has gained greater appreciation for the ways a space’s aesthetics, just like its acoustics, can positively impact educational outcomes. Consequently, engineering, designing, and constructing a school environment demands acoustics to be equally an art and a science, requiring architects and designers to see with their ears, while acousticians must hear with their eyes.

Digital Edition