How To PBL Online
In this e-mail based course, you will explore essential aspects of project-based learning design while also considering strategies for creating accessible and equitable online project-based learning experiences.
This course culminates in you creating an outline and planner to design and facilitate PBL in online spaces and for distance-learning.
Materials Needed
Throughout the course, you will need certain materials in order to properly create your comic. They are:
- An email address
- Video Camera
- Computer
- Willing peers to give feedback
Course Stats
- Provided by: High Tech High Graduate School of Education
- Platform: MailChimp
- Cost: Free
- Availability: Self-Paced Course, Always Available
- Language: English
- Duration: 4-10 Hours
Deliverables
- A project outline for an online project that uses your own subject and grade level content
- An assessment and communication plan to support online project management
- A list of 10 digital resources related to your own online project
- A collection of 6 project activities from launch to exhibition
Course Design By

Kay Flewelling was a founding Humanities teacher at High Tech High Chula Vista. For the past 10 years, she has supported teachers around the world to learn and apply project-based learning practices. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of San Diego and an adjunct professor in their School of Leadership and Educational Sciences.

Patrick is a former classroom art educator at High Tech High Chula Vista as well as an Instructional Designer for the Office of Graduate Education at MIT. Currently Patrick is working with the HTH Graduate School of Education to enhance user experience for all audiences both on, and off, line.
Additional Course Resources
These resources are mentioned in the emails you receive after enrolling into the course.
- Video
- Transcript
- Document
- Comic &/Or Reading
- Models
- Rubrics
- Worksheets
- Tutorials
- Link
- Podcast
Email 3: Project Management and Assessment
Email 4: Ideation
- Sample Ideation Email
- Subjective Happiness Survey
- Oxford Happiness Questionnaire
- Happiness Reflection Assignment
- "Is a Happy Life Different from a Meaningful One?" by Jason Marsh & Jill Suttie
- "A Better Word than Happiness: Eudaimonia" from the Book of Life
- Report on American Happiness
- PBL Design Kit Ideation Video
- PBL Design Kit Essential Questions Video
- How to Critique a Mentor Example
Email 5: Core Academic Skills
- Sample Core Academic Skills Email
- "The New Era of Positive Psychology" by Martin Seligman
- Transcript - "The New Era of Positive Psychology" by Martin Seligman
- Personal Pursuit Proposal
- The Happiness Reader Anthology
- Happiness Journal Google Form Template
- PBL Design Kit Core Academic KSD Video
- Design Thinking for PBL Educators Graphic
Email 6: Drafting, Critique, & Revision
- Sample Drafting, Critique, & Revision Email
- "What's the Point: 52 Weeks of Data" by Fivethirtyeight
- "Sketching with Data Opens the Mind’s Eye" by Giorgia Lupi
- Google Drawing Example
- "Dear Data Project Information" by Giorgia Lupi
- "Data Humanism" by Giorgia Lupi
- Sample Product Process Tutorial
- "Making Critique Work" by Briony Chown
- Critique Worksheet
- Group Critique Slideshow
- PBL Design Kit Drafting & Revision Video
- PBL Design Kit Critique Video
- “Plan and Let Go” Video by Jeff Robin