Project Based Learning

Project Based Learning, also called PBL, is a teaching method in which students solve authentic problems and challenges by applying skills and knowledge across disciplines. Working individually or in teams, students plan, research, create, and present solutions to real-world questions — developing critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills while deepening their understanding of subject matter and its relevance to their lives.

At both Cedars International Academy schools, our teachers personally design projects based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for their subject areas, ensuring that each project is:

  • Student-Centered: The learner drives the process while the teacher acts as facilitator, guide, and mentor — providing opportunities for students to explore their interests, co-create learning goals, and receive differentiated instruction.
  • Inquiry-Based: Learning is driven by authentic questions and challenges. Students formulate hypotheses, evaluate information, draw conclusions, and reflect on their process to generate new questions.
  • Collaborative: Learning is social and interactive. Students share ideas, give feedback, and work as a team on tasks that require cooperation, negotiation, and consensus — including connections to experts and learners beyond the classroom.
  • Creative: Learning is innovative and open-ended, allowing for multiple solutions. Students express and create new products or processes that showcase their unique talents and passions.
  • Integrative: Learning is interdisciplinary and holistic, connecting content across subject areas through real-world contexts and incorporating digital technologies to enhance access, creativity, and communication.
  • Modern: Rooted in 21st Century Skills, learning integrates technology, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and global citizenship — competencies essential for thriving in a complex, dynamic world.

At Cedars International Academy, teaching and learning is about more than content delivery, it is about empowering students to take ownership of their learning, explore their potential, and make a positive impact on the world.