Lead and support successful PBL instruction.
If you're pursuing project-based learning, setting teachers up for success is essential. The PBL Instructional Leader Program supports you through every stage of envisioning, planning, implementing, and optimizing your PBL work.
Every PBL initiative looks different.
But the successful ones have a few things in common.
- Supportive leadership with a clear vision
- Time, training, and resources for teachers
- A proven model for integrating PBL into standards-based instruction
Teachers need a clear model.
Many PBL efforts stall because “PBL” means something different to every teacher. Your teachers will work from one model: the 14 essential elements of a high-performance PBL unit that Dr. Baeder uses with schools and districts.
14 essential elements of a high-performance PBL unit.
Clarify your vision for PBL
Project-based learning can mean many different things to different people. You'll get clear on what PBL will mean in your organization, how you'll roll out your plan, and how it will shape student learning.
That clarity prevents what we call ARLO: Alignment at a Rhetorical Level Only. Everyone may be on board with the idea of PBL but unclear on what it means in practice. Your PBL Implementation Plan gets everyone on the same page.
Build the foundation for teacher success
PBL is a major shift in pedagogy, mindset, and culture. Effective leaders assess teacher readiness, build the routines and trust that instructional change needs, and get teachers the right resources at the right time. Your plan addresses each of these.
Train and support teachers
PBL asks teachers to learn new skills and new classroom routines, and climbing that learning curve takes time. Your plan sets out the timing, training, and ongoing support each teacher will need.
Bring parents and students on board
PBL engages students, families, and community members like nothing else, but clear expectations are key. If students will work in groups, for example, explaining how that work is graded builds parents' confidence. Your plan helps you raise the right issues at the right time.
Leaders asked for it.
Leaders guiding teachers through the PBL Curriculum Developer Certification asked for a program of their own, to understand PBL and what their teachers would need.
Teachers learn PBL best by writing their own units. Leaders have different needs, and many don't have their own classrooms, so writing a unit may not be the best use of their time. This program helps you lead the change at the team, school, and district level.
“We tried PBL… and it didn't work.”
When PBL goes badly, it's usually for a predictable reason. Teachers trying it alone often say things like:
PBL doesn't mean students never take tests, and it doesn't mean unlimited product choices. It means authentic projects solving authentic problems for authentic audiences, with products aligned to the unit's standards and students taught the skills each product needs. You'll learn how to guide teachers to that balance.
What teachers say they need from leaders.
More than 600 teachers have gone through the PBL Curriculum Developer Certification. Here's what they've told us.
It is very important to be on the same page as teaching staff and administrators in order to effectively implement PBL in our school. Both groups have to understand the why, what, and how in order to work together.
It is vital for school leadership to be clear with the teachers on exactly how many resources will be applied to the units, and be up front and honest about budget.
I feel supported knowing that my administrator will be knowledgeable in this form of lesson planning. That is a great help for me.
Four modules.
- Module 1: Understanding project-based learning
- Module 2: Preparing for project-based learning
- Module 3: Training teachers in project-based learning
- Module 4: Implementing project-based learning
Self-paced, about 20–25 hours. We suggest one module a week over four weeks. Your final product is a PBL Implementation Plan for the educators in your organization.
Who should register?
- Superintendents and directors
- Program managers and content-area specialists
- Principals and assistant principals
- Instructional coaches and facilitators
- Team leaders and department heads
- Media specialists, counselors, and other key staff
Classroom teachers writing their own units should take the PBL Curriculum Developer Certification instead. Buying seats for several leaders? Choose “Other people” when you enroll.
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.
guarantee
Money-back guarantee
The PBL Instructional Leader Program 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.
Build your PBL Implementation Plan.
$1,499, or 10 interest-free monthly payments of $149.90. We accept school purchase orders and cards.
- 4 self-paced modules, 20–25 hours
- The PBL Implementation Plan Template
- Feedback on your finished plan
- Lifetime access
Frequently asked questions
Who is this program designed for?
Leaders supporting teachers who are implementing PBL: superintendents and directors, program managers and specialists, principals and assistant principals, coaches, team leaders and department heads, and other key staff.
Which people are most essential to train?
Administrators who directly supervise and evaluate teachers, coaches directly supporting PBL teachers, and leaders directly responsible for PBL implementation. Getting everyone on the same page helps you avoid incompatible models, conflicting advice, poor use of resources, and initiatives that undermine one another.
What if I want to write my own unit?
Then register for the PBL Curriculum Developer Certification.
How will I experience PBL myself?
The program is designed as a PBL experience. You produce an authentic product, your PBL Implementation Plan, for an authentic audience: the educators in your organization.
Is this a train-the-trainer program?
No. It's designed to help organizations succeed with their own PBL work, not to certify trainers.
When does it start and end?
It's self-paced with lifetime access: no start date, no deadline, and you can go through it as many times as you like.
How does it compare to the Curriculum Developer Certification?
This program is for leaders helping teachers implement PBL. The Curriculum Developer Certification is for teachers writing their own units. Leaders are welcome in both, but we don't recommend the Curriculum Developer Certification unless you'll actually write a unit: it's built as a PBL experience, and going through it without writing one won't show you what teachers experience.
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.
What if I don't finish? Can I get a refund?
Your registration includes lifetime access, so you can pick up where you left off at any time. We offer an unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee; after 30 days we don't offer refunds or cancel payment plans.