Project-Based Course Resources

The Buck Institute for Education (BIE) defines Project-Based Learning, or PBL, as "a systematic teaching method that engages students in learning knowledge and skills through an extended inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and tasks." Extensive information, tools, and resources can be viewed at the BIE web site.

In recent years, the University of California (UC) has received submissions for “a-g” approval of an increasing number of project-based courses. With the growth of alternative and charter schools in the state, this trend is expected to continue. These courses have in common the preference for students to pursue their own interests and be self-directed in their learning. However, the commonality stops there. Recent submissions include senior projects, and topics in science, medicine, engineering, history, and more.

UC has been challenged to approve these courses to satisfy the “a-g” requirements for several reasons:

Course Content . UC faculty expects students to be well prepared for University studies in a range of disciplines, represented by the “a-g” subject requirements. The course content of project-based courses is typically poorly defined, allowing students plenty of flexibility to pursue topics of their choice. As a result, it is difficult to ascertain whether faculty would consider the content to be appropriate college preparatory material.

Course Expectations . UC faculty also expects a high level of academic rigor for any course approved to meet the “a-g” subject requirements, particularly those taken in the final years of high school. Like the course content, the expectations of project-based courses are often unclear.

Consistency. Most, if not all, courses approved by the University to meet the “a-g” requirements have both content and expectations that remain the same from year to year. The nature of project-based courses is such that topics and expectations evolve on a regular (sometimes annual) basis. This adds further complications to the course approval process.

Ultimately, UC would like to accept academically rigorous project-based courses that focus on the core subject areas expected for University eligibility. The resources in this section are intended to assist those teachers who are developing project-based courses and writing them up for presentation to UC for “a-g” approval. They include: