BOOK REVIEW: Thinking Through Project-Based Learning : Guiding Deeper Inquiry
BOOK REVIEW: Thinking Through Project-Based Learning: Guiding Deeper Inquiry
Krauss, Jane and Boss, Suzie (2013). Thinking Through Project-Based Learning : Guiding Deeper
Inquiry . Corwin Publishing a SAGE company. Thousand Oaks CA, 216 pages
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[Here insert, single spaced, the author, data, title of the book, publisher, and number of pages]
The most amazing learning experience I have ever witnessed took place at High Tech
High in San Diego in a science class. Students went on a field trip to the zoo and measured an
unused enclosure. They then took those measurements back to the school and plugged them into
Google sketch up to analyze the design options and the dimensions. Students then had to choose
what type of exhibit this should be turned into and what the animals that were that were in the
enclosure would need. They then had to analyze the cost of such a project and design the entire
enclosure in Google sketch up so there was a visual components. Finally they had to present their
Comment [AD1]: Make singular
proposals to members of the Zoo board. This is an experience that the students will never forget.
They will retain the information, they will learn from the process, they will grow. This is project
based learning at its finest. This is why project learning can be so powerful.
Thinking Through Project-Based Learning: Guiding Deeper Inquiry is a practical guide
for anyone interested in diving deeper into project based learning. This book follows a very
logical progression from the Whys and Hows of PBL to actual examples of how you can
implement PBL in your classroom. The book provides examples of PBL activities in the
appendix in the four major subjects Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies for grades K12. The book covers PBL in a broad way, and could benefit from being more focuseds on a
Comment [AD2]: fix
specific subject or divide booksby grouping books by elementary versus secondary frameworks.
Comment [AD3]: or by grouping books
Written by Jane Krauss and Suzie Boss, who had preciously previously written the
Comment [AD4]: fix
Comment [AD5]: Why do the quotation
marks come before the? Dont use quotation
marks at all. Italicize the title of the book.
What is the Roman numeral at the end?
bestselling Reinventing Project-Based Learning (Krauss and Boss, Xvii) this book serves the
purpose of making PBL more accessible to educators and is certainly intended for teachers and
Formatted: Font: Italic
BOOK REVIEW: Thinking Through Project-Based Learning : Guiding Deeper Inquiry
administration administrators whothat haves heard about PBL, but not implemented it. Krauss is
Comment [AD6]: administrators
Comment [AD7]: who
touted in the book as a long time educator who is currently an education consultant. Krauss also
Comment [AD8]: This weakens your point.
Is she qualified to write the book or is she
tooting her own horn? Provide your
opinion, not hers.
teaches online courses in project based learning and speaks at conferences and professional
development workshops. Boss is also an educational consultant who contributes regularly to
Comment [AD9]: This is obvious and
beside the point. I would omit it.
[Link]. Each author has obviously stands to benefit financially from this book, however
the book is written with a passion for PBL and it truly feels that they are driven by bettering the
educational experience of our students and the information they are able to retain. Chapters like
Making the World Safe for Thinking are proof of this.
This book is divided into two sections and appendices. In tThe first section is called
Inquiry, The Engine of Deep Learning, . In this section there are five chapters which cover
Comment [AD10]: Merge these two
sentences. In the first section, Inquiry, the
Engine of Deep Learning, the authors
why PBL is important and how it works, that humans are natural an animal of inquiry, that the
world needs to be made safe for thinking, how to think out loud and how PBL looks in a
classroom and how to design a rich learning experience. Each chapter builds on the previous
chapter, however the book can also be used as a quick reference guide for teachers who are more
Comment [AD11]: fix
experienceds or more interested in just diving in directly.
The second section of the book is also divided into 5 chapters and focuses more on how
PBL looks in the four main disciplines of the modern school, Language Arts, Social Studies,
Science, and Math. Each has its own chapter in section two with the first chapter of section two
Comment [AD12]: This detail seems
confusing and unnecessary
that precedes these being Thinking Across Disciplines. Theis chapter of connecting PBL
Comment [AD13]: on
across all disciplines is a powerful reminder that PBL is based on solving real world problems.
The book focuses on the point that As wewe discussed in previous chapters, Pproject-based
learning prepares students for the world that awaits them by giving them opportunities to work
with peers on authentic problems. PBL is preparing our students for problem solving, in our
2
BOOK REVIEW: Thinking Through Project-Based Learning : Guiding Deeper Inquiry
constantly evolving world, we can not possibly know what problems our students will face in the
Comment [AD14]: No need for a direct
quote here. Paraphrase and dont cite.
future, but we can help them with the tools they will need to solve them. . (Krauss and Boss,
67).
Comment [AD15]: appendices
The final sections of the book are 4 appendicesxes that provide more real world supports for
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PBL. Appendix A Project Library offers many ideas for PBL activities for grades k-12 in all
four subjects. Appendix B is a discussion guide for each individual chapter. Appendix C offers a
very brief idea about how to run professional developments for PBL activities. Finally appendix
D provides links and resources for additional information on PBL.
This book does a lot of things right but it has some areas where it comes up short. In
general it is designed for someone who is completely a novice at PBL. If you have any
Comment [AD16]: with
experience withon the ideas and reasons behind PBL thean the entire first section is really just
Comment [AD17]: then
affirming ideas that you already believe. The research on why PBL is eaffective would be more
Comment [AD18]: effective
powerful affective if brain research was added in order to provide cutting edge evidence into the
Comment [AD19]: improved
way that doing a project leads to a better understanding of a problem. This book would also be
Comment [AD20]: were
even more effective if it would bewere split into specific categories for elementary versus
secondary education. Although PBL can be important as an interdisciplinary approachbeing an
interdisciplinary process is important, most educators could be served better by a book that
Comment [AD21]: can be important as an
interdisciplinary approach
haswith more specific examples from their content. This may not be feasible from a marketing
Comment [AD22]: with
and sales standpoint however.
Comment [AD23]: omit?
Overall this book is an effective introduction to project-based learning for educators and
administration. It is not for experts on the subject and would only serve to support their views on
this wonderful form of education. The text does a good job at introducing PBL and explaining
Comment [AD24]: A concluding paragraph
only works if it adds something. This
paragraph simply re-states what youve
written above. Im inclined to omit it.
BOOK REVIEW: Thinking Through Project-Based Learning : Guiding Deeper Inquiry
why and how it is important. Brain research would be nice in supporting the research behind the
teaching, but the point is still covered thoroughly. The sections on each subject are helpful
offering several project ideas for many different grade levels. In the end this book lives up to its
promises of an introduction to PBL with the help of guiding deeper inquiry. [Grade = A-]
References
Krauss, Jane and Boss, Suzie (2013). Thinking Through Project-Based Learning : Guiding Deeper
Inquiry . Corwin Publishing a SAGE company. Thousand Oaks CA
