Project-Based Learning (PBL) provides experiences through which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge. Additionally, it allows students to strengthen the skills they need for life (i.e., critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, leadership, etc.) and to engage in learning that's fun and relevant.
The Buck Institute for Education (2018), one of the leading voices in PBL, proposes that the following elements are essential to all effective projects:
Key knowledge, understanding, and success skills The project is focused on student learning goals, including standards-based content and skills such as critical thinking/problem solving, communication, collaboration, and self-management.
Challenging problem or question The project is framed by a meaningful problem to solve or a question to answer, at the appropriate level of challenge.
Sustained inquiry Students engage in a rigorous, extended process of asking questions, finding resources, and applying information.
Authenticity The project features real-world context, tasks, tools, quality standards, or impact. Alternatively, it speaks to students' personal concerns, interests, and issues in their lives.
Student voice and choice Students make some decisions about the project, including how they work and what they create.
Reflection Students and teachers reflect on learning, the effectiveness of their inquiry and project activities, the quality of student work, and obstacles and how to overcome them.
Critique and revision Students give, receive, and use feedback to improve their future process and products.
Public product Students make their project work public by explaining, displaying and/or presenting it to people beyond the classroom.
(Credit bie.org)
Video creation can support all elements of the PBL experience. Below is a project idea that incorporates the use of video creation to strengthen and support the eight elements listed above.
Scenario:
Students, in the role of financial advisors, are challenged to find the best way $25 can impact a community. They will select a project from the organization, Kiva.org, to provide with a $25 microloan. To help students determine the best use of the funds, they will conduct interviews with a banker to learn how lending works, and with the investors to learn about what projects they are passionate about. Fellow students, teachers, and community members will be the investors. Students will also factor in repayment schedules, as well as delinquency and default rates, for the given project and borrower. Students will be in charge of taking the funds and investing them into Kiva.org so the borrowers can begin their project. The end product is a student-created video that will be shared with the all the investors, as well as the school and the local community, to get their Kiva projects fully funded.
Learning Targets/Standards:
Student can use operations with decimals to solve a real-world problem and explain their reasoning through models. (5.NBT.B.)
Present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant descriptive details to support main ideas. (S.L.5.4)
Assessment/Product
Students would first collaboratively develop a plan for their video by creating a storyboard. The video will include media (e.g., photos, music, etc.) and interview clips from the borrower's community. Students will have a choice in who they interview and determine how to sequence the story to generate the most impact. The video will include the students' own thoughts and opinions predicting future success of the community. It will also explain why they believe this project will make the biggest impact on the community.
This was adapted from BIE.org, which provided this as a Gold Standard example of a project. The original was developed by National Faculty members Angela Marzilli and Erika Jordan.
When students engage in such a project, the experience requires more than just acquiring knowledge of a specific content area. It requires inquiry, collaboration, communication with new people, and the use of technologies that further support student learning. Video creation in this project, for example, revealed how students reason through mathematics and understand the culture of the community they are supporting. It also allowed students to critique and revise their work, and provided a more engaging way to present their final product to a relevant audience.
Video creation adapts readily to project-based learning across grade levels, subject areas, and differentiated student needs. It provides a canvas upon which students collect research and drive insights. They are empowered to reveal novel insights they make by establishing connections across that rich material. Such projects provide teachers with formative assessment opportunities to simultaneously appraise how students perceive the project and to evaluate their skill levels across multiple areas. PBL with video creation is a multidimensional learning experience that engages students and effectively addresses today's educational goals. WeVideo provides many resources for interested educators interested in exploring project-based learning:
The WeVideo blog and education resources feature projects and creative lesson ideas shared by educators.
The WeVideo newsletter provides updates on new features and best practices for educators.
Get started with PBL and WeVideo here.
Search
Video tutorials, lessons and tips
Read More
How a teacher has his students vlog for meaningful student reflections
Save time and accelerate learning with new WeVideo templates
Coding and video plus green screen: bringing it all together
Enhancing project-based learni
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
02/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
02/07/2026
Standalone processors acknowledged for the innovation and value they bring to Pro AV
Cobalt Digital, a leading designer and manufacturer of signal processing ...
02/07/2026
Synamedia announced today the appointment of Dr Tzvi Gerstl as Chief Executive Officer. Paul Segre, who has served as CEO for the past six years, will transitio...
02/07/2026
Screen Australia backs audience-led filmmaking with new insight-driven initiativ...
02/07/2026
Screen Australia refines guidelines for Narrative Content Development and Docume...
02/07/2026
Maxon Autograph: Introduction to working with Tables
Simon Ubsdell July 1, 2026
0 Comments
An overview of Autograph's ridiculously powerful tables...
02/07/2026
Boston Conservatory's Soir e Breaks Records to Fund Student Scholarships The event achieved 127 percent of its fundraising goal in an evening celebrating ...
02/07/2026
How Adam Rosenwach Pivoted from Music to Med Tech Without Missing a Beat What do the rehearsal room and the boardroom have in common? More than you might thin...
01/07/2026
Broadcast Management Group (BMG) has announced the appointment of Kathy Samuels ...
01/07/2026
Shade has announced Custom Objects and Automations, a platform expansion releasing June 29, 2026, that adds database and workflow automation capabilities direct...
01/07/2026
FOR-A America has announced the addition of Jaz Wray and Fernando Cruz to its U.S. sales team. Both report to Ernie Leon, Senior VP and Head of Sales and Strate...
01/07/2026
NBC Sports will air all 15 MLB games nationally on Sunday, July 5, across NBC, P...
01/07/2026
Clear-Com has announced a wireless communications upgrade for Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, deploying FreeSpeak II and FreeSpeak Icon systems across both prod...
01/07/2026
England's performance team will use Sony's STATSports APEX GPS tracking system to monitor player physical data in real time during FIFA World Cup 2026 m...
01/07/2026
Adder Technology has announced the appointment of Neil Hillier as Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2026. Hillier succeeds Adrian Dickens, who transiti...
01/07/2026
Bitcentral, Inc. has announced a strategic transaction creating two separate companies. The Production and Playout business will continue as Bitcentral, now own...
01/07/2026
DAZN has announced results from DAZN48, its creator initiative for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Launched in April 2026, the program received thousands of applicatio...
01/07/2026
Sarah Rose, VP, global services, Daktronics (NASDAQ: DAKT), will be inducted into the Information Display and Entertainment Association (IDEA) Hall of Fame at t...
01/07/2026
Gravity Media and the World Economic Forum's production team provided broadc...
01/07/2026
Insight Productions has announced the launch of Insight Storm, a 53-foot mobile broadcast unit built for esports production. The truck is built around a Ross Vi...
01/07/2026
ESPN has announced several content initiatives marking America's 250th anniversary, as part of The Walt Disney Company's Disney Celebrates America pro...
01/07/2026
Eleven production kits, REMI workflows, and cloud distribution bring 40 World Cu...
01/07/2026
The conference also discussed the opportunities offered an industry that is endu...
01/07/2026
The Mountain West Conference has announced the launch of MW , a direct-to-consumer streaming platform powered by Kiswe. The platform will carry live Mountain We...
01/07/2026
New AI Assistant, Multi-channel Audio, ARA2 improvements & more
Tracktion's DAW software has just received its latest major update, gaining a selection ...
01/07/2026
Stammering, stuttering, strangulated tones
The Crow Hill Company's latest creation promises to be the most original sound set they've produced to d...
01/07/2026
Exclusive run of limited-edition modelling pedals
Sweetwater and Andertons M...
01/07/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce that the ca...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Manfrotto Introduces UNCOVER, the new premium camera bag collection for modern h...
01/07/2026
Blackmagic Design Powers Houston Tamil Sangam Literacy Competition
Brie Clayton July 1, 2026
0 Comments
Volunteers use ATEM Mini Pro, Blackmagic Desig...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
PlayBox Technology has published State of Broadcast Infrastructure 2026, an in-depth industry research report examining the technologies, operational challenges...
01/07/2026
LONDON, UK, 1 JULY Jigsaw24 has appointed Alan Henry as Head of Sales for Media and Entertainment, reinforcing its continued investment in helping broadcaster...
01/07/2026
Content Vault, the patent-pending secure content distribution platform protecting high-value media from disclosures, theft and unauthorised access, today announ...
01/07/2026
Bitcentral, Inc. a leading provider of enterprise software and digital media solutions for news, sports and entertainment broadcasters, as well as streaming pla...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/07/2026
Groundbreaking First Nations Screen Business Accelerator launched through nation...
Project-Based Learning (PBL) provides experiences through which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge. Additionally, it allows students to strengthen the skills they need for life (i.e., critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, leadership, etc.) and to engage in learning that's fun and relevant. 
