• PBL Home
  • Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
  • Nuclear Energy Project
  • Mars One Project
  • Amateur Astronomer / Astronomy Week Projects
  • BP Oil Spill Project
  • Keystone Pipeline Project
  • Project Noah Virtual Zoo
  • Getting Started: Finding a Project
  • Getting Started: Activities
  • Getting Started: Assessment
  • Crime Scene: Density
  • Maize High CSI
  PBL3: Project, Place, and Phenomenon-Based Learning
  • PBL Home
  • Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
  • Nuclear Energy Project
  • Mars One Project
  • Amateur Astronomer / Astronomy Week Projects
  • BP Oil Spill Project
  • Keystone Pipeline Project
  • Project Noah Virtual Zoo
  • Getting Started: Finding a Project
  • Getting Started: Activities
  • Getting Started: Assessment
  • Crime Scene: Density
  • Maize High CSI

Getting Started: Finding a Central Problem
Around Which To Construct a New Project

Generally speaking, when we give students a problem, they solve the problem and they're done. However, give them a project, and they begin to work like a team of scientists, writers, investigators, dreamers, inventors, engineers, and captains of their own education. I have listed here a great number of resources to search for problems/cases. It has been my experience that using these as the centerpieces to build more extensive, collaborative, real world, "in the news" projects is what makes classroom learning come alive!
                                                                                                                                                         

General


  • ** CASES Online – Scientific Method – 4 projects – grades 6-12
  • Intel PBL – All sciences – 45 projects – grades 3-12
  • iEARN – Science projects – mostly environmental – 11 projects – grades K-12
  • ** PBL Online – Science projects – 27 projects – K-12
  • ** Take Action Curriculum – Take Action Science Projects – grades 6-12
  • Teach 21 – All sciences by grade level – 32 projects – grades K-12

Earth Sciences


  • CIESE – Environmental projects – water, soil, sun – 6 projects – grades 1-12
  • ** CASES Online – Earth Science – 24 projects – grades 6-12
  • ** CASES Online – Environmental Science – 10 projects – grades 9-12
  • ** ePals – Collaboration with other Schools – 5 projects – grades 1-8
  • JASON Project – Earth and Environment - 4 projects – grades 6-8
  • My Science Box – Ecology Box – ecosystems, habitat, water & soil – grades 3-12
  • My Science Box – Geology Box – 19 projects – grades 3-12
  • My Science Box – Watersheds Box – watersheds, wetlands, bay – grades 3-12
  • My Science Box – Plate Tectonics Box – grades K-12
  • ** PBL Online – Down the Drain – water cycle, environment – grades 9-12
  • ** PBL Online – Am I Too Hot for You? – climate change debate – grades 9-12

Life Sciences


  • CIESE – Human Genetics – on-line collaboration  until June 2011 – grades 6-12
  • ** CASES Online – Anatomy/Physiology – 14 projects – grades 9-12
  • ** CASES Online – Biology – 51 projects – grades 9-12
  • ** CASES Online – Health Science – 11 projects – grades 6-12
  • ** CASES Online – Life Science – 19 projects – grades 6-12
  • ** CASES Online – Microbiology – 3 projects – grades 9-12
  • High Tech High – San Diego Bay Field Guide – better stewards of bay – grade 11
  • My Science Box – Genetics & Evolution Box –  grades K-12
  • My Science Box – Physiology Box – biology, plants, animals – grades K-12
  • ** PBL Online – Hard Body, Perfect Brain – physiology, drugs – grades 9-12
  • Project Approach – Project Examples – bugs, animals, health – preK-K
  • Project Approach – Project  Examples – trees, health – grades 1-4
  • Salvadori Center – Your Body, A Building – grades 1-5
  • What's Up with the Bees?
  • Save the Honeybees!

Space Sciences


  • NASA – Outreach Projects – 11 projects – grades 3-12
  • ** PBL Online – One World, One Home – solar system, Earth – grades 9-12

Chemistry


  • ** CASES Online – Chemistry – 42 projects – grades 6-12
  • High Tech High – Drug Movie – impact of drugs on people & society – grade 10
  • Teach 21 – Chemistry Projects – 2 projects – grades 9-12

Engineering & Architecture


  • CIESE – Engineering projects – some have real-time collaboration & start in Feb – 16 projects – grades preK-12
  • F.L. Wright Preservation Trust – Architect Studio 3D – grades 7-12
  • High Tech High – This New House - design environmentally friendly home – grades 9-12
  • High Tech High – Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? – construct an electrical product – grade 9
  • Salvadori Center – Science Curriculum – building systems – grades K-5
  • EIE – Engineering is Elementary – problem solving using science & math – grades 1-5

Physics

  • ** CASES Online – Physics – 40 projects – grades 9-12
  • Teach 21 – Physics Projects – 3 projects – grades 9-12
  • APlusPhysics – Physics Projects – 6 projects – grades 9-12

Physical Science


  • ** CASES Online – Physical Science – 21 projects – grades 6-12
  • HOO – Hands-on Optics – lasers, light, magnification – grade 1-8
  • Project 21 – Physical Science – 5 projects – grades 6-12

Technology


  • ** CASES Online – Science, Technology & Society - 1 project – grades 9-12
  • High Tech High – Today’s Machines – ancient technologies – grades 9-12
  • Indiana U. – Molecules Matter – applied nanoscience – grades 9-12

Other Searchable Databases of PBL Cases


  • National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science 
    science, engineering, medicine, dentistry, sociology, public policy / international affairs, business 
    State University of New York at Buffalo
  • Investigative Cases 
    BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium
  • Problem-Based Learning Clearinghouse 
    requires free registration 
    University of Delaware
  • Science Case Network 
    SCN supports science educators, learners, researchers, developers and professional organizations, furthering access and development of the use of cases and PBL in science education.
  • PBL Across the Curriculum links 
    links to cases in history, social sciences, humanities, english/language arts, mathematics, and business
    Emory College Center for Science Education, Emory University
  • Other PBL Institutions 
    undergraduate, medical school, K-12, mailing lists, international PBL networks, miscellaneous 
    University of Delaware
  • ScienceNET Problem-Based Learning Links 
    links for undergraduate education 
    ScienceNET, Emory College Center for Science Education, Emory University
  • The Buck Institute for Education's Project-Based Learning Site
  • West Virginia Department of Education 21st Century Project-Based Learning
  • Global SchoolNet (Internet project registry)
  • ePals Projects for Global Communication
  • Challenge Based Learning (Apple)
  • iEarn Collaboration Center
  • Global Virtual Schoolhouse: Clubhouse
  • PBLE App for iPad ($1.99)
  • Teacher's Guide to PBL
  • Create Your Own!  Watch the News or NewsFeeds for Issues Like These...
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  • PBL Home
  • Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
  • Nuclear Energy Project
  • Mars One Project
  • Amateur Astronomer / Astronomy Week Projects
  • BP Oil Spill Project
  • Keystone Pipeline Project
  • Project Noah Virtual Zoo
  • Getting Started: Finding a Project
  • Getting Started: Activities
  • Getting Started: Assessment
  • Crime Scene: Density
  • Maize High CSI