For teachers

Master the art and science of PBL unit design.

Project-based learning is a powerful way to engage students in rigorous, authentic learning. But without a well-designed unit plan, it's nearly impossible to cover the standards, get students to complete high-quality projects, and keep your sanity.

Enroll now Group or purchase order? Get a quote

You know what good teaching looks like.

But it's tough to find the time to develop a project-based unit you're proud of during the school year. And if this is your first real try at PBL, even the first step can be hard.

I like the idea of PBL, but I don't even know where to start.

I'd love to have my students do a project, but I can barely cover all of the standards as it is!

We had to rush through the content, and the project just felt like an afterthought.

Assessing so many different kinds of projects was a nightmare!

I wanted students doing their own projects, but they didn't seem to have the skills.

Students took so long on their projects that I couldn't cover everything I needed to teach!

These are solvable problems, if you begin with the end in mind.

Imagine your students…

Understanding the content at a deeper level, and remembering it long after the unit is over
Getting excited about learning, even the reluctant learners who always seem disengaged
Solving real-world problems for real audiences, not just turning in assignments for a grade
Exercising their creativity and working together while they master key learning targets

It starts with unit design.

When you've planned a unit that addresses your students' needs and interests, an authentic real-world problem, and the standards you need to teach, you can find the kind of success with PBL that most teachers only dream of.

Once you've written your first high-performance unit, repeating the process, and even “PBL-ifying” your whole curriculum, becomes an attainable goal.

This course was one of the most useful professional development courses I have taken. The structure and tasks were logical, well-organized, and relevant. I never wondered “Why am I being asked to do this?” I found the two fishbowl coaching sessions I did with Amy to be the most helpful part of the course. She really listened to my ideas and concerns and gave me feedback in real time that greatly improved my unit.
GeorgiaHigh school English teacher

The PBL Roadmap

Five stages of unit design.

I've worked with schools and districts all over the world, helping teachers build PBL units they're proud of. This is the process I use to write curriculum for my clients, and any teacher can follow it.

Stage 1

Establish project foundations

Stage 2

Design an authentic, meaningful project

Stage 3

Sketch out assessments & activities

Stage 4

Plan your project “bookends”

Stage 5

Resource and plan your unit

What's inside

Five modules, one finished unit.

Module 1: What is high-performance project-based learning?
Module 2: Digging deep to inform and inspire a rich PBL unit
Module 3: Planning your unit's foundations and 4 cornerstones
Module 4: Framing your unit from start to finish
Module 5: Peer review, publishing, and celebrating

How it works

Video modules walk you through the whole PBL Roadmap, with step-by-step Action Tasks in each lesson
The PBL Unit Plan Book gives you the prompts, templates, and tools to complete your unit
Live 1:1 Fishbowl Coaching sessions give you feedback from Dr. Baeder, and from peers who watch and learn
The member community, where you can share ideas, ask for feedback, and polish your unit
Your finished unit is reviewed against our benchmarks of high-performance PBL before you're certified

You'll learn the same way your students will: by working on an authentic project from day 1 and sharing the final product with a real audience.

This is one of the best professional-level programs I've done in my whole teaching career. No comparison.
SandhyaIB Physics teacher, Thailand

Graduate work

Units our graduates have written.

4th grade

Animals in captivity

Alexander, Shanghai. Students debated the pros and cons of animals in captivity while learning persuasive techniques and the science of animal needs and habitats.

3rd grade

A dual-language museum

Rachael and Rebecca, Shanghai. Students created dual-language Ancient Egypt museum exhibits.

6th grade

Invention

Janice, New Jersey. “How can the engineering process along with rhetorical speech be used to solve a real-world problem?”

Adult

Advanced welding

Larry, Idaho. Four college-level PBL scenarios for adult learners in an advanced welding program.

Your instructor

Dr. Amy Baeder

Amy is an independent education consultant and Director of the Project-Based Learning Network, which supports teachers across the United States and in 43 countries. Writing PBL curriculum and helping teachers design high-performance units is her full-time job. She holds an EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy from the University of Washington and remains a science teacher at heart.

30day
guarantee

Money-back guarantee

The PBL Curriculum Developer Certification is backed by a 30-day, 100% money-back guarantee. We're confident the knowledge and skills you gain will exceed your expectations and make a lasting difference in student learning. If for any reason you aren't satisfied, contact us within 30 days for a full refund.

Enroll

Start your unit.

Self-paced, about 6–8 weeks, lifetime access. Pay in full or spread it over 12 months. Buying for teachers on your staff? Choose “Other people” and you'll assign the seats.

5 self-paced modules
The PBL Unit Plan Book
Live 1:1 Fishbowl Coaching
The member community
Lifetime access

Frequently asked questions

How long is the program?

It's designed to be completed in six to eight weeks, so you finish with a complete PBL unit you can use right away. You have lifetime access, so you can work at your own pace and come back to the modules whenever you like.

When does it start?

Whenever you're ready. The program is self-paced, with check-ins at key points in your unit design. There's no expiration date.

Can I pause and come back?

Yes. You won't fall behind, and the program never expires, so you can return to it again and again.

Who should register?

Teachers who will write curriculum to use in their own classrooms or to share with others.

If you're a principal or other leader supporting teachers with PBL, the PBL Instructional Leader Program is built for you; we don't recommend this program unless you plan to write a unit yourself. Leaders often buy seats here for their teachers: choose “Other people” when you enroll, then assign the seats.

How do I earn the certification?

By writing a high-performance PBL unit. You're guided through each step, with detailed criteria for success, and your finished unit is reviewed before you're certified.

How do I get feedback and support?

Through live Fishbowl Coaching with Dr. Baeder and the member community, where you can ask questions and share ideas with other educators working on their units.

Can I go through it again for my next unit?

Yes. Lifetime access means you can use the modules every time you write a new unit.

Do you offer group rates?

Yes: 25% off for 2 or more seats, applied automatically when you enroll. For whole-staff and whole-district pricing, or to pay with a purchase order, get a quote.

Are CEUs available?

We're happy to document your participation and provide what the issuing organization needs. Because CEUs are issued locally, we can't issue them directly; your district or service agency can advise on the best route.

Do you offer onsite training?

This program is fully online, but Dr. Baeder is available for contracted onsite professional development. Email amy@amybaeder.com for rates and availability.