For many teachers, diving into project based learning (PBL) feels like stepping into the unknown—a space where traditional methods give way to student driven projects that engage, challenge, and inspire. It’s an exciting yet daunting shift, but this journey can lead to transformative learning experiences with the right tools. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers powerful support, equipping teachers with resources for each phase of PBL, from planning and resource curation to audience engagement. With AI as a guide, teachers can amplify their skills, creating classrooms that foster curiosity, deepen content mastery, and bring learning to life.
A New Planning Partner: AI
When planning a unit, we often find ourselves sifting through online resources and mapping ideas in isolation. AI changes this by acting as a co-teacher with boundless resources, expert knowledge, and fresh perspectives. Imagine being able to ask an AI assistant, “I’d like to design a PBL unit on a specific standard. Can you help me with an introductory activity, a Topical Essential Question, lesson ideas, comprehension checks, and engaging activities for my 7th grade class?” The AI’s response can provide ideas we may not have considered, streamlining what once took hours or even days into minutes.
To experience this, open a new tab on your computer and go to ChatGPT. After creating an account, try the following approach to maximize your prompts. Here, we’ll use the PREPARE and EDIT acronyms from Dan Fitzpatrick to guide you through the process:
PREPARE
- P = Prompt: Specify what you need.
- Example: “Help me plan a Project Based Learning unit.”
- R = Role: Set the role for the AI.
- Example: “Imagine you’re a 7th grade social studies teacher in an urban district.”
- E = Explicit: Include details you want addressed.
- Example: “This unit covers the standard ______. Create a Topical Essential Question and Guiding Questions for lessons. Also, develop an introductory activity, five formative assessments (for comprehension only), and three suggestions for real world audiences.”
- P = Parameters: Set any specific limits or guidelines.
- Example: “This unit should last three weeks and include five lessons.”
- A = Ask: Request follow-up questions for clarity.
- Example: “Please ask me any questions to improve your response.”
Now, submit your prompt and explore the AI’s feedback. Once it responds, try this:
- R = Rate: Ask the AI to rate its response on a scale of 1–10.
- Example: “How would you rate this response?”
- E = Emotions: Provide context, such as deadlines or feelings.
- Example: “I’m preparing this for an important observation, and I need it to go well.”
With this approach, you should receive a thoughtful, innovative response that you can refine to match your classroom needs.
EDIT
Now, let’s apply the EDIT acronym to finalize your PBL plan with AI’s support:
- E = Evaluate: Look over the response, keeping what fits your goals and discarding what doesn’t.
- D = Determine: Ensure the response aligns with best practices and meets your students’ needs.
- I = Identify: If needed, check for biases or misconceptions and revisit your initial prompt.
T = Transform: Tailor the AI’s suggestions to reflect your voice, terminology, and classroom dynamics.
Simplify the Process, Maximize Impact
One of the biggest challenges in PBL is balancing academic standards with project engagement and classroom dynamics. AI can simplify this by helping to break projects into manageable steps, making it easier to avoid unnecessary complexity. Remember, PBL doesn’t always require ambitious, large scale projects; even simpler projects can profoundly impact. With AI, teachers can focus on essentials—building curiosity and relevance around one core standard or topic.
For example, ask ChatGPT for ten project ideas (five whole class and five individual) to see a range of possibilities. Provide the AI with a timeline, as well. Only some projects need to take months. Some meaningful projects can be completed in just a few weeks. Additionally, consider using AI to help students develop projects from their perspectives. A tool like SchoolAI, for instance, lets you create a chatbot that students can use to brainstorm and structure their projects. This approach gives students agency, especially for those new to self directed projects, and makes the process more manageable and rewarding.
Connecting Students with Authentic Audiences
An essential part of PBL is giving students an authentic audience with partners who can offer new perspectives and real world relevance. Collaborating with local businesses, organizations, and families connects students to a community outside the classroom, making their work more meaningful. AI can suggest suitable partnerships, expanding beyond familiar contacts to find community members and organizations that will add depth to your project.
For instance, when my students worked on a project about the Declaration of Independence, we partnered with the National Archives; we engaged with the U.S. Capitol for a project on the U.S. Constitution. When we read The Year of the Hangman, my students presented their projects to the author, Gary Blackwood. These collaborations bring purpose to students’ work by linking it to real world audiences who will use, critique, or benefit from it. They encourage students to see themselves as contributors and problem solvers within their communities, raising motivation and ownership of their work. When families and community members join as collaborators and audiences, they also gain insight into the valuable skills students develop, strengthening a support network for impactful PBL.
Using AI as a Continuous Guide
AI is a valuable support tool beyond the planning phase. Students can use it to get ongoing project feedback, adjusting as they go. They might upload images or ask for time management advice, consulting AI for guidance on sticking to their project timeline. Sometimes, students hit roadblocks or aren’t sure how to allocate their time for various tasks. By conferring with AI, they can make steady progress, which helps maintain momentum and ensures a smoother project experience.
Embrace the Co-teacher and Transform Your Classroom
It is indisputable that AI has the potential to transform PBL and our implementation of it. It does not replace you in the process, but it amplifies our efforts in planning and guiding PBL in our classrooms. AI allows us to overcome barriers that have prohibited us from successfully taking the leap into PBL.
When we start to see AI as an assistant or co-teacher, we begin to see it as a tool that superpowers what we are already doing and provides the focus needed to engage students’ passions and curiosity. Step by step, AI can help you create the conditions for students to engage deeply, find personal meaning, and make tangible connections to their communities. These conditions not only equip students to master content but also set them up to meet the needs and challenges of the world they live in.
So take that first prompt, that initial big question, and watch as AI helps you open new doors for yourself and your students. With AI at our side, there’s no limit to what our students can discover, create, and achieve.
About the author
Dan Jones is an innovative educator with nearly 20 years of experience inspiring 7th and 8th graders through engaging, passion driven teaching. With a diverse background across private, public, and urban charter schools, he fosters inclusive learning environments where students feel valued and inspired. Dan’s pioneering approach connects his students to national institutions like The National Archives and The White House Historical Association through groundbreaking virtual sessions, a first in U.S. classrooms. As President of the K-12 advisory board for the Flipped Learning Global Initiative, Dan’s impact reaches educators worldwide, advocating for fresh perspectives on teaching. Now, his focus on Project Based Learning (PBL) and digital technology has propelled him to the forefront of AI integration in education, sharing insights in The AI Classroom and his book Modern PBL: Project based Learning in the Digital Age as well as on platforms like The AI Café podcast on the Bam Radio Network. Dan’s commitment to cultivating lifelong curiosity drives his work, making him a leading voice in reshaping modern education.
