Does Project-Based Learning Feel Overwhelming? AI Might Be the Key to Making It Work.

For busy educators like us, it's been a struggle to effectively implement project-based learning (PBL) while balancing standards, time constraints, and assessment requirements.

There simply aren't enough hours in the day.

But what if AI could eliminate these barriers and make PBL more accessible than ever?

In this episode, I sat down with Phil Alcock and Thom Markham, two leading innovators who are bridging the gap between AI and student-centered classrooms.

They share how AI tools are reshaping the PBL design process, freeing us to focus on what truly matters—guiding and supporting students in meaningful, inquiry-driven work. We learn:

🔹 Why AI isn’t replacing project-based learning—it’s making it easier to implement
🔹 How AI-powered tools help teachers align projects with curriculum standards in seconds
🔹 Why digital portfolios are shifting the focus from grades to real learning evidence
🔹 How co-designing with students (and AI) leads to deeper engagement and creativity

Learn how to win back your time and unleash learner engagement...

Connect with Thom: Email: thom@PBLFutureLabs.com, LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thom-markham-ph-d-5292213/) Website (https://thommarkham.substack.com/).

Connect with Phil: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipalcock/),

Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard to identify areas for growth: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard

Phil's Bio: Phillip Alcock is a global innovator in AI in education, known for his pioneering work connecting project-based learning (PBL) with artificial intelligence. In collaboration with PBL expert Thom Markham, Phillip founded PBL Future Labs to bridge the gap between project-based learning and artificial intelligence through specialized coaching programs. Based in Acapulco, Mexico, Phillip works on various projects, from edtech to writing AI-enhanced STEM curriculum for thousands of students annually, creating no-code AI platforms, and delivering workshops and keynote speeches for Beaconhouse.

Thom's Bio: Thom Markham is a psychologist, author, speaker, educator, co-founder of PBL Future Labs and President of PBL Global, an educational organization focused on innovation and transformation through promoting inquiry-based learning, Thom offers a set of unique services that helps schools and districts envision, design, and implement a successful, sustainable plan for educating 21st century young people.

🎙️ What if your students didn’t just study academic standards—but took ownership of teaching them to peers?

Too often, students see academic standards as something to memorize and repeat. But what if they engaged with them in a way that deepened understanding and made learning more meaningful?

In this episode, we talk with Mara Simmons, Phd., an international educator, school founder and learning designer who has reimagined how students learn by shifting control of academic content to them. She shares how structured peer-to-peer teaching leads to deeper understanding, stronger collaboration, and more student ownership of learning—all while staying aligned with curriculum goals.

🔹 How to turn academic standards into student-led learning experiences and student- initiated projects
🔹 Why peer teaching strengthens comprehension, confidence, and engagement
🔹 The role of the teacher as a facilitator who empowers students—while freeing up time to focus on deeper learning
🔹 How to start small—without losing structure or overwhelming students

🎧 Curious about how this shift can work in your classroom? Let’s explore what happens when students become the experts.

Connect w/ Mara: LinkedIn, Instagram (@maras9876)

Mara's Blog: https://teachinghacks4all.com

Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard

Learn more about the 'Student-Centered Classrooms' Mastery Cohort: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsmasterclass

Mara's Bio:

Mara has 25+ years of experience teaching and learning. Her career has been centered in schools that serve underprivileged communities and served as a teacher/ founder/ leader and director of several secondary schools in Los Angeles. In her teaching experience she lead project based learning programs aligned to the Big Picture Schools design and trained teachers in PBL strategies. She spent five years in the UK leading and reinvigorating a Post 16 secondary teacher training program which taught her a lot about the secondary sector. Currently in partnership with CTL Academy she is transforming secondary education and growing CTL Academy Global- an accredited project based, UN sustainable goals aligned program to build Global citizens, passionate scholars, servant leaders and agents of positive change in their communities.

🎙️ Is “letting go” the secret to student empowerment?

For years, teachers have been told that structure, control, and direct instruction drive student success. But what if the opposite were true?

In this episode, we sit down with Dan Jones, a veteran educator, 2x author, and student-centered champion who nearly left the classroom—until he discovered the power of flipping the script. He shares how shifting from teacher-led to student-initiated projects transformed engagement, reduced discipline issues, and reignited his passion for teaching. We learn how to create structures that support student-driven inquiry, shift the teacher’s role, and make learning more meaningful. We also unlock how:

🔹 Students create better projects when they are designed with them—not for them
🔹 Daily micro-conversations make grading simpler and more meaningful
🔹 Passions—not real-world problems—lead to the most impactful learning
🔹 Assessment isn’t about grading—it’s about guiding student growth

Hear about these shifts in practice and how to apply them in your setting starting tomorrow.

Get in Touch with Dan: Twitter/X @ideasforteacher, Instagram @ideasforteachers, LinkedIN, Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@flippedpbl), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/modernpbl)

Article on intersection of AI and PBL: 'Revolutionizing Learning'

Learn more about the 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Classrooms Course: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsmasterclass

Take the 12 shifts scorecard: transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard

Dan's Bio: Dan Jones has been teaching for 20 years and currently teaches 7th and 8th-grade social studies at The Richland School of Academic Arts. He holds a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on digital teaching and learning from the American College of Education. His diverse teaching experience spans private, public, and inner-city charter schools. Jones trains educators in implementing Project-Based Learning and integrating AI into the classroom. His innovative teaching has been showcased on Cleveland’s ABC and NBC news affiliates. He has led students in pioneering distance learning collaborations with institutions like The National Archives, The U.S. Capitol, The White House Historical Association, and Mount Vernon. A founding member of the International Faculty for Flipped Learning, Jones also served as an editor for FLR Magazine and has authored Flipped 3.0 Project-Based Learning and Modern PBL: Project-Based Learning in the Digital Age. He continues to explore the intersection of education and technology as the host of The AI Cafe podcast.