About the AP Project Based Learning Series
The AP Project Based Learning Series is a one-year professional learning program that begins with an AP Summer Institute followed by online support sessions throughout the school year. It’s designed for AP teachers with any level of experience with project based learning (PBL).
The program is currently available for the following AP courses:
- Environmental Science
- Human Geography
- Statistics
- U.S. Government and Politics
- World History: Modern
Workshops are designed and delivered in collaboration with PBLWorks, the premier organization in project based learning (PBL) teaching methodology.
What You’ll Learn
The AP PBL Series will prepare you to implement an engaging, student-centered project-based instructional approach in your classroom. The projects in the series drive student learning of the content and skills outlined in the AP course framework.
During the AP Summer Institute, you’ll learn about high-quality PBL design elements and teaching practices to help you plan and implement a project-driven approach within your AP course.
You’ll continue building on your understanding of PBL through project implementation and support sessions throughout the school year.
You’ll learn how to:
Identify how AP content and skills are developed within and across the course projects.
Apply high-quality PBL design elements and teaching practices.
Simulate and model PBL practices using examples from the course projects.
Adapt the projects and prepare to implement them with your students.
CEUs
Like other research-based workshops that are shown to improve student performance, the AP PBL Series requires ongoing professional learning throughout the school year. Accordingly, you’ll receive more continuing education units (CEUs) than participants who attend a standard AP Summer Institute.
Cost and What’s Included
The $799 online or $1299 in-person registration fee includes:
4 days of online or in-person professional learning during the AP Summer Institute (30 hours), including access to project implementation guides and instructional materials.
Up to 5 online, 90-minute sustained support sessions during the school year (timed with the expected completion dates of each project). You’ll be able to choose from several dates and times for each of these sessions.
Each project’s implementation guide includes a table with the AP content knowledge and skills to be developed in the project. The guide also includes AP Classroom resources, such as AP Daily videos, topic questions, and free-response questions, along with suggestions on how to use them within each project cycle.
Available Funding
College Board offers grants for qualifying teachers new to an AP subject to attend an AP Summer Institute.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a regular AP Summer Institute and the AP PBL Series?
AP supports a teacher’s choice in selecting the professional learning experience best suited for them. Both opportunities offer in-depth exploration of the AP course and exam description (CED):
The AP PBL Series is a one-year highly interactive and ongoing professional development experience. It includes a 30-hour AP Summer Institute and follow-up workshops focused on implementing a project-based approach to teaching the AP course.
Traditional AP Summer Institutes are 30 hours of content-rich professional learning designed to strengthen how participants teach their AP courses. Participants leave with ready-to-use strategies and pedagogical tools shared by an experienced AP educator and explore the following AP resources in depth: unit guides, topic questions, progress checks, the AP Question Bank, instructional planning reports, syllabus development guides, sample syllabi, and the AP Community.
How can I commit to the AP PBL Series without yet knowing the dates for the follow-up sessions during the academic year?
To make it easier to attend, the online support sessions will be held on various dates. You’ll be able to choose the date that works best for your schedule. Online support sessions will be offered for each project cycle beginning with a debrief of Project 1 and launch of Project 2.
Although the support sessions are optional, teachers who participate in a session during each project cycle will be eligible to receive additional CEUs on top of those earned during the AP Summer Institute.
What’s the average AP class size that you would recommend to implement PBL?
This program is designed for all teachers interested in PBL regardless of class size. During one study, the average class size ranged from 25-30 students. That said, we understand that each school’s requirements for class size may vary. Strategies for implementing the projects with varying class sizes will be discussed during the AP Summer Institute and subsequent support sessions.
I teach my AP course in a semester. Am I still eligible to participate in the AP PBL Series?
Yes. Although the projects in this series were designed for a yearlong course, participants who teach in a semester may still engage in this program.
The support will be modified for participants whose course is taught within a semester. When you register, note whether your course is on a yearlong or semester schedule.
What additional materials or administrative support will I need to implement AP Project Based Learning?
Projects in the AP PBL Series do not require instructional materials or resources beyond what’s required in the AP Course Audit.
The program includes up to five online support sessions during the school year. It’s important that your administrator is aware of these sessions and supports your attendance.