Project-Based Learning - Next Charter School

Learning by doing

Mirroring the real world

Project-Based Learning (PBL) or Problem-Based Learning makes school mirror the real world more than it ever has before. It does this by having students learn information and skills within a specific context rather than traditional memorization techniques. By engaging in projects with real-world applications, students are able to think critically and build knowledge along with skills that will stay with them into adulthood. PBL does this by posing a problem or essential question to students and asking them to find a solution. Finding that solution demands investigation, curiosity, creativity, flexibility, hands-on problem solving, and more.

As an example

Imagine that a student believes strongly in an issue. That student needs to read and understand about the topic, develop a creative solution, and write and present a proposal to officials. That one project integrates knowledge and skills from many academic domains. On top of that, it builds a stronger connection to the community and lets the student take on the role of an engaged citizen. Not every project at Next may be this big or complex, but each one maintains that same sense of real-world problem solving.