Cooper and Murphy have created a guide for educators that answers questions around project based learning with steps readers can take to make PBL come to life in their classrooms. This book includes examples that can help you envision PBL in action along with plenty of resources to help you dive deeper into a PBL experience. If you’ve considered trying out project based learning with students or are ready to strengthen this practice, this book is for you!
Monica Burns, Ed.D., Author of Tasks Before Apps, Founder of ClassTechTips.com
None of us enjoy being taught at, and yet that is what too many students endure in their classroom. Project Based Learning: Real Questions. Real Answers. How to Unpack PBL and Inquiry is an inspiring book focusing on a process where the teacher and students learn together, and the authors provide a step-by-step process on how to do that.
Peter DeWitt, Ed.D, Author, Consultant, Finding Common Ground Blog for Education Week
If you are looking to move away from compliance based projects and into student-owned project based learning, you have found your book. Ross and Erin take the very real questions about the what, why, and how of project based learning and give actionable answers. They have thought about it all, done it all, and are sharing their strategies with you. You’ll leave knowing how to prepare, support, and assess student learning through a deeply engaging process.
Gravity Goldberg, Ed.D., Director and Literacy Consultant, Author of Teach Like Yourself and Mindsets and Moves
Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have created a project based learning manifesto. One that can be read cover-to-cover or used over and over again as a PBL manual as questions naturally arise during the process. Created by two practitioners currently working in schools, the authors weave stories in and out of step-by-step strategies to make PBL doable, relevant, and meaningful. Get this book, and then get some highlighters and sticky notes because you are going to need them!
A.J. Juliani, Coauthor of Empower and LAUNCH
This book is a must-read for educators who aspire to create more personalized and inquiry-based experiences for all students. Too often the message is that you have to start from scratch. Instead, Cooper and Murphy share insights and practical strategies to address the most pressing questions about project based learning and will empower you to build from what you are already doing to create amazing learning opportunities for your students.
Katie Martin, Ph.D., Chief Impact Officer at Altitude Learning, Author of Learner-Centered Innovation
Students around the world eagerly embrace learning experiences that are DIFFERENT, that are more than traditional factual recall and procedural regurgitation. In this phenomenal PBL resource, Cooper and Murphy unpack the concrete logistics of what it takes to facilitate deeper learning, greater student agency, and more real-world authentic work in your school. This book is full of useful templates and protocols, answers to challenging questions, and ideas that will energize student learning. Use the practical strategies in this book to embrace the “productive struggle” and make learning different (please? asking for a few million students…).
Scott McLeod, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Colorado Denver, Founding Director of CASTLE
This is a must-read book for two main reasons: The authors so clearly explain the why, the how, and the what of project based learning that although in the past I have been a little skeptical of the value of PBL, now I am not. And, the book contains so much valuable thinking and good advice about effective teaching and learning practices, it is worth reading even if you have no interest in or no intent to implement PBL.
Ken O’Connor, Author of How to Grade for Learning and A Repair Kit for Grading
Cooper and Murphy do a great job of answering the many questions educators have in order to effectively use PBL in the classroom. Not only does this book address the why of student-centered learning experiences, but more importantly, the how. Teachers will be able to read this book and try new things that will support student learning and will increase engagement in the classroom due to higher relevance. I highly recommend it.
Starr Sackstein, Author of Assessing with Respect and Hacking Assessment
The authors provide educators with the keys to deliver the type of learning all students deserve: engaging, hands-on, and on the path to caring about and solving problems that matter. As someone who facilitates project based learning with students, I’ll be referring to this book, over and over again.
Shelly Sanchez, Digital Innovator, STEM Teacher, Author of Hacking Digital Learning Strategies
If you are an educator (or educational leader) who centers students, inquiry, and self-directed learning, then this is the book for you. Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy have created a thoughtful project based learning roadmap that helps educators understand how PBL can be a framework for all content areas so we no longer have to schedule PBL time as a stand-alone experience. Rich with graphics and organizers, Project Based Learning: Real Questions. Real Answers. How to Unpack PBL and Inquiry is a powerful resource that helps demystify PBL and makes it accessible to all teachers and learners with practical strategies and transformative resources!
Tony Sinanis, Ed.D., 2014 NYS Elementary Principal of the Year, Coauthor of Hacking Leadership
This book makes project based learning practical and accessible for any classroom teacher. The authors blend together both the “why” and the “how” with concrete examples and actual strategies that teachers can use. They provide research-based answers to the big questions teachers have about how to align PBL to the standards, how to incorporate mini-lessons, and how to manage the chaos of projects.
John Spencer, Ed.D., Coauthor of Empower and LAUNCH
Ross and Erin captured my interest and earned my trust right out of the gate with this new collaboration by reminding readers that their stories are grounded in the very real, lived experiences of the learners they serve and the teachers they lead. And while their stories are real, these humans are humble enough to let their audience know that they may not necessarily be right and that in fact, they have no desire to claim false authority or disregard their limitations of their work. How different the evolution of our field may have been had more people with great expertise set out to share their stories with such careful intention. This book is brimming with the kind of inspiration that can only emerge from a deep and consistent commitment to learning. It offers just enough theory, it honors the contributions of many who have shared great thoughts on project based learning, and most importantly, it serves as a compass and a guide for educators who come from different systems. Here, readers find opportunities to synthesize the best of the learning they’ve done in different arenas, in service to their students.
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