Using ChatGPT to Design PBL Projects

Welcome to a new era of project-based learning, where the power of artificial intelligence meets your creativity and expertise as an educator. ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can help generate project ideas, prompts, and resources, but it doesn't replace the critical role you play as an educator. Your knowledge, experience, and insight are essential in crafting meaningful learning experiences. ChatGPT is here to augment your abilities and provide inspiration, not to substitute them.

In the world of education, PBL is an invaluable approach to foster deeper learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. It empowers students to engage with real-world challenges and actively construct knowledge, making learning a dynamic and immersive journey.

About the Guide

This guide will walk you through the steps of developing a PBL project, from identifying relevant problems to creating thought-provoking driving questions, designing final products, and engaging authentic audiences. ChatGPT will assist you at various stages, but I can’t say this enough, it is you who will bring life to these projects and adapt them to your unique classroom environment.

I encourage you to embrace the creative potential that ChatGPT offers while also considering its limitations. Remember that AI is not infallible, and the responsibility for crafting an effective and engaging learning experience lies with you.

PBL Project Design is a Collaborative Process

The process of designing PBL projects should be a collaborative and reflective one. Engage with your fellow educators, seek input and feedback, and continuously refine your projects. Together, you can create transformative, epic learning experiences for your students.

The Chat GPT PBL Prompt Guide

Below is the guide, but you can get your own, editable Google Doc of the guide for free here. With your own copy, you will be able to easily edit it for your grade level and subject area, and have it as a template any time you design a new project. 

Step 1A- Develop a List of Problems

The first step in developing a PBL project is determining a relevant problem for your students to solve. This can be done by first considering your students’ interests and passions, as well as needs in your school and community. To determine the problem for the project, generate a list of problems, local or global, and then choose one from your list that can connect with learning goals/content standards from your class.

Tip: Create your list without the use of technology at first. Then use the following prompt in ChatGPT to generate more ideas.

Prompt: Create a list of problems that exist in an average _______________
                                                                                           (Urban/Suburban/Rural)
community.

Step 1B- Start With Standards

Include a set of content standards that you want to build a project around in the following prompt sequence (Step 2).

Step 2- Developing Your Prompt

Below is the prompt you can copy and paste into ChatGPT. The underlined portions are areas you need to add to prior to submitting.

Begin prompt with: Develop a Project Based Learning Project that includes:

Title of Project:

• Include an engaging title that students will connect with throughout the project

Problem (If you used Step 1A):

• Center the project around ________________ that students will solve.
                                               Insert problem         

Content Standards:

• These are the specific academic standards and learning objectives that this project will address. Ensure that the project aligns with the curriculum and educational goals. 
• Insert Standards: 

Subject Area:

• This PBL project is for my ______ grade _____________ class.
                                        Grade level               Subject Area

Driving Question:

• Include a thought-provoking question that will guide students throughout the project. This question should be open-ended and encourage critical thinking.

Final Product:

• Describe the tangible outcome or deliverable that students will create as a result of their project work. This should align with the content standards and goals of the project.

Authentic Audience:

• Specify who the intended audience is for the final product. It could be other students, community members, experts in the field, or anyone who would benefit from or be interested in the students' work.

Entry Event:

• Describe the engaging and immersive experience or scenario that will introduce the project to students. This event should grab their attention and create a context for the project. It can be a real-world problem, a simulation, a guest speaker, a field trip, or any other activity that sets the stage for the project.

Materials/Resources:

• Specify any materials, tools, or resources that students will need for this project. This can include textbooks, technology, art supplies, or access to specific websites or databases.

Project Duration:

• This project will take ______ days/weeks.

Assessment Criteria:

• Outline how students' performance and understanding will be assessed during and at the conclusion of the project. Include both formative and summative assessment methods.

Grading and Assessment:

• Clarify how students will be graded or assessed on their work. Include rubrics or criteria for evaluating the final product and other project components.

Reflection and Debrief:

• Plan a reflection and debrief session after the project's completion to discuss what students learned and what they could do differently in future projects.

Step 3- Expand and Contract

For this step, you will use ChatGPT to expand on the material it generated for you and discard content and resources that are unhelpful. Go through each heading and determine what you want to keep and what you want to pass on.

For instance, if you like the project idea but the driving question is too specific, type into the input field: "Rewrite the Driving Question, but make it broader," or, "Generate 10 more Driving Questions for this project."

As another example, if you like an assessment idea ChatGPT generated, you can type into the input field, “Create a rubric for this assessment.”

Step 4- Start Over

You may or may not need step four. Just remember, if you do not like the project idea or would like to see some other ideas, type into the input field: “Generate a different project using the same prompt I gave you earlier.”

Tips for Success

Creating effective PBL projects using ChatGPT is an exciting and innovative approach to engage your students. But remember, it is imperfect and still a developing technology. To maximize the potential of this guide and ensure successful project development, consider the following tips:

1. Define Your Objectives

Start with a clear understanding of your educational objectives. What do you want your students to learn and achieve through this PBL project? Keep these objectives in mind as you work with ChatGPT.

2. Articulate Your Vision

Clearly outline the vision for your PBL project. What's the big picture? What impact do you want it to have on your students and the community? This vision will guide your project development. Perhaps right out your vision for the project and include it with your initial prompt. 

3. Leverage ChatGPT Creatively

Use ChatGPT to brainstorm, generate ideas, and refine your project, but don't just rely on it for a template. Engage with it to spark your own creativity and innovation.

4. Customization is Key

While the guide provides a structured template, don't hesitate to customize it to suit your specific teaching style, your students' interests, and your school's unique needs.

5. Seek Collaborative Input

Engage with your fellow educators. Discuss your project ideas with colleagues to gain insights, share best practices, and obtain valuable feedback for improvement. The project design process is best done collaboratively. Even if you are using ChatGPT to assist with the process, work with other educators to customize your project. 

6. Focus on Real-World Relevance

Integrate real-world relevance into your project. This could mean connecting with local issues, involving community partners, or simulating authentic scenarios that resonate with your students. Project-based learning projects do not need to actually solve real issues in order for them to be authentic, but including relevant problems for students to solve can heighten student empathy, engagement, and learning.

7. Craft a Captivating Entry Event

The entry event sets the tone for your project. Make it immersive, captivating, and thought-provoking. The more intriguing the start, the more engaged your students will be. If you're not thrilled with the entry event ChatGPT generates for you, ask for another. This step in the PBL process is essential.

8. Establish Clear Assessment Criteria

Clearly communicate how you will assess your students' performance and understanding during and after the project. Use well-defined rubrics and criteria for accurate evaluation. ChatGPT can help you develop these.

9. Empower Student Ownership

Promote student ownership by giving them opportunities to make choices within the project, set goals, and take responsibility for their learning journey.

By following these tips, you can make the most of this guide and create PBL projects that not only engage students, but also foster deeper understanding, critical thinking, and a love of learning. I hope this helps lead to some epic project for your students!

-Trevor