FAQ on Project Learning and the Project Learning Partnership
Learning through projects and learning to do projects well.
What is the Project Learning Partnership (PLP)?
The Project Learning Partnership is a global collaboration of foundations, educators and project management professionals who have a keen interest in enabling more effective 21st century learning through the use of projects and age-appropriate project management. As a chartered initiative of the PMI® Educational Foundation, the PLP envisions being a major catalyst, advocate and collaborative facilitator in the development and delivery of project learning worldwide.
What is project learning?
Project learning is an instructional methodology in which primary and secondary school students learn important life skills by doing actual projects. Students apply core academic skills and creativity, along with age-appropriate project management knowledge, to solve authentic problems in real-world situations.
What is the vision of the PLP?
Primary and secondary school students will be better prepared to achieve success in school and life through their use of project learning to acquire 21st century skills.
What is the mission of the PLP?
To support primary and secondary teachers and students worldwide in their desire to have students gain essential 21st century skills through a project learning approach.
What are 21st Century Skills?
21st century skills, as identified by The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, include but are not limited to the 7 C’s:
- Critical Thinking and Problem-solving
- Creativity and Innovation
- Collaboration, Teamwork and Leadership
- Cross-cultural Understanding
- Communication and Information Literacy
- Computing and ICT Literacy
- Career and Learning Self-reliance
What is the Partnership for 21st Century Skills?
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is “the leading advocacy organization infusing 21st century skills into education.” They recognized that there is a profound gap between the knowledge and skills most students learn in school and the knowledge and skills these students will need in typical 21st century communities and workplaces. For additional information on The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, please visit www.21stcenturyskills.org.
Is the PLP for the US only or for students worldwide?
The PLP is a global program. Materials and training are being developed for educators and students worldwide. The first phase of teacher training will be implemented in the Asia-Pacific region, North America, Europe and Latin America.
What is the relationship of the PLP and PMI Educational Foundation?
The PLP is a chartered committee of PMI Educational Foundation.
Why are Project Management Institute and PMI Educational Foundation involved with primary and secondary education?
PMI Educational Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Project Management Institute. Both organizations recognize the importance of improving the educational processes used in primary and secondary schools and of nurturing the next generation of project management practitioners.
Do you intend to teach project management to primary and secondary school teachers?
The PLP will provide relevant levels of project management training to teachers to help them initiate, plan, execute, control, and close projects in the classroom. Teacher training in both project management and project learning is one of the PLP’s priorities.
How can my organization contribute to the PLP?
Organizations whose mission and vision align with that of the PLP are invited to contact us at pmief@pmi.org for information on becoming part of the PLP. The PLP will accept financial and in-kind donations from any organization interested in supporting the work of the PLP. Donations to the PLP are tax deductible as permitted by the United States Internal Revenue Code.
How can individuals contribute to the work of the PLP?
There will be opportunities for individuals to serve as volunteer project management mentors to teachers and as project support specialists or judges in student competitions. Additional programs are being piloted and more opportunities will be available.
Are there any materials that I can take to my local school?
Two products are available from PMI Educational Foundation at this time, Careers in Project Management and Skills for Life. For information on these products and the PLP, please access the PMIEF website, PMIEF.org.
How can my school get information on student competitions that involve project learning?
A partial list of project learning student competitions is available in the Learning Zone tab on PMI Educational Foundation’s website, PMIEF.org.
My organization runs a learning competition. How can we get involved in the PLP award program?
If your organization has an award program that promotes project learning for primary and secondary school students, the PLP will evaluate your competition and determine if it aligns with the PLP’s mission.
My organization has a product that I feel your members will be interested in. How do I approach the PLP?
The PLP does not promote any commercial products.
How is the PLP related to the PMI Education and Training Specific Interest Group (SIG)?
The PMI Education & Training SIG is focused on professional education and training, while the PLP is focused on primary and secondary school students and teachers.
How will you know if project learning is successful and how will you measure results?
Metrics to evaluate students’ progress with project learning are a core part of the program. Metrics are under development and will be made public in the near future.
How will primary and secondary school-aged students learn project management?
The PLP is developing an age-appropriate curriculum that combines project learning with traditional teaching methods.
How can I keep informed about the PLP?
Information on the PLP is available in the Learning Zone tab on PMI Educational Foundation’s website, PMIEF.org.
Are there programs available for university students?
University programs are available if a student wishes to pursue project management as a profession. For additional information please visit PMI.org, click on ‘Career Development’, and then ‘What Accreditation Means.’
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