Driving questions can be a useful tool in project-based learning for focusing students in on the idea or purpose of a project. However, it is easy to get caught up in the idea of a project, rather than providing learning experiences that lead to the understanding of the content that will be assessed. When constructing learning opportunities such as PBL it is important to begin by setting learning-appropriate goals. This presentation will highlight the importance of deconstructing standards as a way to identify these goals. Once we understand what the standards actually want the student to be able to do with their knowledge, we can more easily come up with a driving question or identify authentic teaching approaches that will lead to the desired project outcomes.
