As we approach year five of our partnership with the College Board, we're excited to share the latest achievements from our collaboration. We’ve been working hand in hand to ensure that our Project Based Learning (PBL) approach integrates seamlessly with the content and skills outlined in Advanced Placement (AP) course and exam descriptions.
Going back in time a bit…
In 2021, we launched our partnership with the College Board, beginning an exciting journey to offer PBL-based professional development for AP courses in environmental science and U.S. government and politics!
These courses represent a groundbreaking approach to teaching, leveraging the power of PBL to engage students and deepen their understanding of complex subjects. The curriculum is founded on research from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Center for Economic and Social Research.
This research demonstrated that PBL, when coupled with high-quality professional development, significantly improves student performance compared to students in non-PBL classrooms.
What are the most important findings of this comprehensive study?
- In year 1 of a randomized controlled trial in 5 U.S. cities, students scored 8 percentage points higher.
- In year 2 of the study, they scored 10 percentage points higher.
- Students were more likely to earn a qualifying score of 3 or above, which could increase their chances of receiving college credit and saving on tuition. lifelong empowerment.
- The percentage point increase occurred regardless of socioeconomic status, showing that PBL is a tool for equitable outcomes.
This research makes the strongest case for PBL yet.
PBL enhances courses by adding relevant, authentic, and engaging elements that are central to this instructional approach. As we look ahead, we are more passionate than ever about bringing positive changes to classrooms nationwide.
As a follow-up to these research findings, let's explore educators' experiences approaching AP courses through PBL across the country.
“Approaching my AP course through PBL reinvigorated me after teaching for 15 years. Seeing my students engaged, asking phenomenal questions, and achieving higher test scores made it all worthwhile. Yes, it gets messy, chaotic even, but the transformative experience is reminiscent of the excitement we felt in our early teaching years. Hold on tight through the crazy days; it's worth it in the end."
“Go in committed to Project Based Learning. Don't be timid. You'll make mistakes, but that's part of learning. In the end, the knowledge and understanding students gain are huge. They become active and engaged citizens because of Project Based Learning.”
After implementing her first AP PBL curriculum, here’s what a teacher had to share:
"I just implemented the full PBL curriculum, and it has been so much fun and incredibly challenging. It's challenging my teaching and thinking, and I've learned a lot. Students are having a blast doing these projects. They are really owning their learning. Everything is so authentic, and they're buying in."
Stanley Richards, Director of Curriculum-Based Professional Learning for PBLWorks, emphasizes the crucial role of curriculum-aligned professional development: “When teachers participate in curriculum-aligned professional development, it improves their implementation of the curriculum in the classroom, which then supports student outcomes. The teacher’s learning is an important part of the equation.”
As we reflect on the remarkable strides made through our partnership with the College Board and the invaluable insights shared by educators nationwide, we are filled with enthusiasm for the future. We are eager to continue this partnership and witness the continued impact on AP teachers and students.
This summer (June 2 - August 4), PBLWorks will offer this AP Project Based Learning professional development to any interested AP Environmental Science or AP U.S. Government and Politics teacher. For more information or to sign up to participate, visit pblworks.org/advanced-placement.
Interested in attending an AP Summer Institute but need financial support?
Learn about participant grants available to help cover the cost and check out the eligibility requirements.
