Project-Based Learning

Project-based learning is a pedagogical strategy in which students learn by solving real-world problems.

The Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Center for PBL has an online resource specific to higher education that offers an excellent starting point for faculty. The center also offers summer institutes for faculty who wish to learn more and develop PBL in their own courses. The institute’s director, Kris Wobbe, spoke at Trinity in fall 2024. 

In collaboration with Inside Higher Ed, Times Higher Education has published short guides on implementing PBL and using PBL to enhance student motivation. 

The Tea for Teaching podcast has done two episodes on Project-Based Teaching (guest: Jeff Bradbury) and Making Team Projects Work (guests: Lauren Vicker and Tim Franz). 

PBLWorks is a resource designed primarily for K-12 teachers, but which has useful information on getting started, research on PBL, and other resources that will be relevant to undergraduate teaching. 

For those interested in the outcomes of PBL, a 2020 review article summarized work in the scholarship of teaching and learning on this topic. 

You can also check out books on PBL in the CTL library.