PBL - A guide for parents

PBL stands for Project Based Learning. Students work on a project over an extended period of time – from a week up to a term – that engages them in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question. They demonstrate their knowledge and skills by creating a public product or presentation for a real audience.

As a result, students develop deep content knowledge as well as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills. 

Project Based Learning starts with a 'driving question'

For example the driving question for Year 7 term 1 is: 

How can we as new students to Balmacewen create an exhibition item to show our community our Tūrangawaewae? The final project is: Tūrangawaewae Exhibition.

Create an engaging exhibition item to show our community your Tūrangawaewae - who you are and where you feel connected or at home

Client - Our local Balmacewen Families. There will an exhibition/sharing evening for parents and families on Wednesday 14th April.

During the term the year 7 students will participate in activities linked to the Tūrangawaewae theme, such as reading and discussing texts about significant events in NZ history that have shaped who we are and our NZ identity. 

The Year 8 student's focus for term 1 is Ka Mua Ka Muri.

Driving Question = What have I learnt from the world around me?

Through reading activities, research, watching and listening to presentations and other resources the students will investigate how the actions of the past have shaped us today and prepared us for the future.

The final project:  Students will research, script and present a podcast that will be shared via a year 8 website.