About

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The Edge Foundation funded project "PBL Goes To University" commences in April 2019 and runs until December 2020. The aim, as far as possible, is to normalize PBL as an important curriculum vehicle in local schools. To do this we are:​

•Supporting the development of project-based learning projects in secondary schools and further education colleges in collaboration with university staff, university students, employers and other community partners.  We trial these projects with a school, and then document and archive them so that they can, with adaptation, be used by other schools.

•Providing free CPD sessions to local teachers on planning and facilitating projects and tackling the practical challenges that PBL presents, including creating a digital and PDF teacher resource booklet to be published in Autumn 2020.

•Using social media and other available platforms to raise the profile of the projects being undertaken in the schools.

•Further strengthening local networks that provide the infrastructure to support this community-oriented approach.

Project-Based Learning Goes to University: Re-engineering Newcastle University outreach and engagement activity into sustainable, documented, employer–involved, mainstream curriculum PBL projects for secondary schools.

Improve the design and delivery of Careers Education 

  • In all projects we will put a special focus on the education and career trajectories of the people who feature in the projects as facilitators or experts, including university staff and students, business, public service and third sector employees.   
  • A particular emphasis in the CPD would be project products.  This would include the production of books, guides, manuals, displays, cartoons, comics, films, learning resources, maps and other data visualisations, 3D objects (from printing), performances and artefacts.  Such products encourage insights into possible new STEM career pathways, demand effective collaboration and provide additional motivation. 

Support the development of PBL and associated profound employer engagement 

  • We will use the projects as free CPD for teachers who both accompany their schools or just drop in from other schools, so that they can access the planning and documentation, observe sessions, and talk to school students and volunteers.  We will also provide follow up events to help teachers and leaders with planning PBL in their schools. 
  • We will include PBL in the PGCE for teacher trainees and offer opportunities for them to volunteer for projects.  
  • We will document all projects into project ‘stems’, which schools can adapt to their local circumstances.  
  • We will work closely with Enterprise Advisers working in some local schools. 
  • We will hold a PBL Festival, which showcases exemplary projects and practice.