What makes us different makes us better.
We believe that the best PBL support will not only deliver excellent PBL insights, but tailor those lessons to your working educational environment. Our customized approach and hands-on services allow us to create trainings and solutions that perfectly suit your school and teacher goals, needs, and challenges. We readily overcome challenges, providing educators with the tools – and enthusiasm – they need to make PBL a permanent fixture in your school.
We specialize in making PBL an approachable framework for educators at any level.
Our information-rich, practical and engaging workshops are designed to inspire teachers and ignite new experiences in the classroom.
Our workshops:
Workshop Descriptions:
PBL+AI Certification Workshop (90 minutes to full-day options)
This hands-on workshop equips educators with practical strategies for integrating Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Artificial Intelligence. Designed by Dr. Jenny Pieratt, an international PBL expert, it draws from the proven framework of the PBL+AI Certification Course to help teachers design rigorous, engaging, and student-centered projects more efficiently—while keeping the human elements that make PBL truly transformative.
Participants will explore how AI serves as a powerful thought partner for planning, assessment, and implementation across any grade level or subject area. You’ll leave with ready-to-use tools, prompts, and resources you can apply immediately in your classroom or school.
What You’ll Experience
- Foundations of PBL + AI — Build a shared understanding of high-quality PBL and how AI can enhance (not replace) your practice.
- AI for Project Planning — Learn when and how to use AI effectively, master prompting techniques, build complete project plans with tools like Gemini, and create dynamic project hubs using NotebookLM.
- Assessment Practices with AI — Discover how AI is shifting assessment design, explore practical applications for formative and summative tools, review model practices, and address common questions.
- Reflection and Next Steps — Reflect on your role as a PBL facilitator in the AI era, review and refine your project plans, and identify clear action steps.
- Leadership in AI + PBL — For instructional leaders: Leverage AI as a thought partner, develop policies and procedures, identify key tools and supports, and design effective professional development.
- Advanced Tools in Action — Hands-on exploration of tools like Napkin AI, Canva AI, and Gamma App, plus strategies for implementing projects successfully with students.
Throughout the session, you’ll engage in active planning, prompting practice, and resource creation tailored to your context.
Workshop Features
- Customizable formats: 90-minute intro/calibration session, half-day, full-day, or multi-session series.
- Highly interactive and responsive, following the National Equity Project Experiential Learning Cycle.
- Differentiated by grade level and role (elementary, secondary, or leadership focus available).
- Alignment with your district curriculum, initiatives, and platforms.
- Includes the CraftED PBL Planning workbook, access to a private resource library, reproducibles, handouts, and AI prompt frameworks.
Formats available: In-person, virtual synchronous, or hybrid. Can also serve as a pathway to the full self-paced PBL+AI Certification Course (with certificate option).
Ideal for: Teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders who want to harness AI thoughtfully to strengthen PBL implementation while preserving student agency and deeper learning.
This workshop builds naturally on your existing PBL offerings and provides sustainable, practical support for bringing AI-enhanced projects into your school community.
PBL 1.0 (2-4 hrs)
This workshop is intended for all levels of familiarity with Project Based Learning, as it begins with a calibration exercise. In this introduction to High Quality Project Based Learning (HQPBL) participants will begin with a deep analysis of exemplar (grade appropriate) PBL models. After this grounding exercise, we will explore a project planning framework rooted in rigor, real-world issues and student engagement. Workshop can be customized to align with district curriculum, platforms and initiatives. Workshops are offered by levels of elementary or secondary so that all materials and strategies are appropriately differentiated.
Agenda outline is as follows:
- “The Why” of PBL
- Looking at/analyzing exemplars, defining our “north star” for quality
- Knows/Need To Knows (NTKs)
- Project brainstorming protocols
- PBL planning
- Big picture mapping
- Enduring Understanding-driving standards
- Driving Questions
- Final products
- Benchmarks, formative assessment deliverables
- Supported work time
- Collegial protocol for project feedback
- Next steps
Included in the workshop:
- Keep it real with PBL: Project Planning workbook
- Access to private PBL library of planning resources and project ideas
- Reproducibles, handouts, planning forms
Formats available: In person or online (PBL certification e-course)
Assessment 2.0 (2-4 hrs)
This workshop builds off of PBL 1.0 and is an introduction to best practices in assessment, both formative and summative, for PBL. Participants will review reliable, exemplar Open Ed Resources for 21st century skills and CCSS. These tools will be aligned to project goals and used to develop a rubric for the project designed in PBL 1.0. We will also explore best practices in student engagement and assessment, feedback and reflection. Workshop can be customized to align with district curriculum, platforms and initiatives. Workshops are offered by levels of elementary or secondary so that all materials and strategies are appropriately differentiated.
Agenda outline is as follows:
- Benchmarking content and skills
- Student deliverables and formative assessment practices
- Summative tool development
- Calendaring assessments and learning targets
- Student interaction with assessment tools
- Closing-Project Prune, NTKs
Included in the workshop:
- Keep it real with PBL: Project Planning workbook
- Access to private PBL library of planning resources and project ideas
- Reproducibles, handouts, planning forms
Formats available: In person or online (PBL certification e-course)
Project Coaching (1-2 hrs)
This is a follow up service to PBL 1.0 and Assessment 2.0 workshops and highly recommended for sustainable PBL implementation. Project coaching is 1:1 fully personalized project planning support provided by CraftED Experts. This time is designed to “meet teachers wherever they are” with PBL and can include “soup to nuts” planning of a project. If there are planning teams on site it is recommended that all members of the team be present for this time. Examples of support during project coaching include: differentiation, calendaring, designing reflection activities, project brainstorming, standards alignment, scope and sequencing, etc. Teachers appreciate this time with a PBL expert because it answers any remaining questions they might have, helps them get clear on their individual next steps and keeps them focused and efficient during planning time.
Formats available: In person
Project Reflection and Refinement (1.5-2 hrs)
This workshop is a follow up to PBL 1.0, Assessment 2.0 and project coaching. After teachers have implemented their initial project it is a best practice to reflect upon the process to ensure that teachers continue to develop their craft and that students are learning deeply. Using a modified Looking at Student Work protocol, CraftED will facilitate the staff analyzing project work from the school site. The staff will use the definitions of HQPBL developed during PBL 1.0 as a lens for reflecting on their own project and generating goals for improving the project next year.
Agenda Outline is as follows:
- Self Reflection
- Revisit HQPBL
- Planning team project audit
- LASW protocol
- Goal generating for project #1
- Project 2 storming
- Supported work time
- Collegial feedback using protocol
Formats available: In person
Project Calibration (1.5 hour session)
This is a 1.5 hour crash course where we will calibrate on quality, and your staff will define their North Star for PBL. During our time together we will deeply analyze exemplar (grade-level) PBL models, discuss deeper learning practices within PBL, define our priorities for planning quality projects, and generate sustainable next steps for implementing PBL. This workshop is recommended for staff who are new OR experienced in PBL.
Agenda is as follows:
- Welcome:
- Knows and Need to Knows
- The Why and What of PBL
- Analyzing models with lenses for quality + Breakout discussion
- Staff prioritizing: defining quality PBL
- Knows and Need to Knows, Closing reflection
- Next Steps
Included in the workshop:
- Keep it real with PBL: Project Planning workbook + Assessment Guide
- Access to private PBL library of planning resources and project ideas
- Google Drive folder created to include all reproducibles, handouts, models, and planning forms
Formats available: In person or Online (highly interactive synchronous workshop)
Leading PBL (1.5 hr)
With a strategic plan that puts best practices in place your community can experience success with PBL. This interactive and highly reflective workshop will take school leaders through five steps of a “playbook” to follow for PBL implementation over the course of two years. Participants will have an opportunity to interact, share ideas, and most importantly put into practice what is covered, by developing their own Annual PD Plan. This workshop is appropriate for any individual in an instructional leadership position – from Lead Teachers to District Coaches, to site Principals to Directors of Curriculum and Instruction.
Agenda outline is as follows:
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Know and communicate your Why, How, What
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Preparing for Implementation
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The PBL Teacher Profile, anticipated challenges, creating a culture for change
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Model the mode, ongoing staff learning
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Reflect and Refine
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Planning for year 2
Formats available: In-person, online synchronous, hybrid virtual