“It is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." ~Oscar Wilde

Problem and Inquiry-based Learning are multifaceted. They provide total educational strategies. Teachers of the gifted have always used this paradigm in some form.  In today's differentiation atmosphere where movement is towards everyone being educated in the general classroom with the same “script”, it is imperative that GT educators become a necessary and integral part of the team in helping the general classroom teacher make the transition from traditional teaching methods to methods which address the learner needs and skills needed today and in the future while making the best use of the tools available to us.

Problem-based learning (PBL) allows learners to master curriculum through authentic work. Teachers are no longer purveyors of knowledge, instead they facilitate learners using the skills  an architect,  artist, TV producer, engineer, scientist, fashion designer, historian, or an advertiser might employ. This authentic work provides relevancy and excitement to teaching objectives and standards that too often become mundane seatwork, worksheets, and other uninspiring assignments. Technology-rich PBL breaks the barriers of time and place and encourages global interaction and understanding.
A multitude of resources today are available through technology for educators so that the need to “create” their own curriculum can now be replaced with “collaboration” with educators around the world who share the same vision.  Want to see PBL in action? Check out: http://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/2010/09/design-thinking-project-based-learning-in-action-in-scotlands-curriculum-for-excellence.html

Ready to build your own PBL? Start here: http://pbl-online.org/
http://web.me.com/khoneycuttessdack/D-1/Units/Units.html

Don’t know where to connect with others?
http://www.etfo.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/Publication%20Documents/Voice%20-%20School%20Year%202005-6/Winter%202006/SchoolWithoutBorders.pdf

http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic43.htm

Want some “instant” roadmaps?
https://www.facebook.com/LifePracticePBL  New PBL cards (thanks to Ginger Lewman) are recipes for you to follow. One set = 7 different project cards, with 5 core content areas on each card, with project seeds for K-12. Essentially, you're getting 105+ possible projects in EACH SET of cards.