The first step in preparing brains to learn is to develop a "felt need" -- a cognitive dissonance that leaves the student saying, "I have to learn this!" We accomplish this through the 5 Ps of PBL ... real-world, open-ended problems (problem-based) or challenges (project-based) that may also be place-based or profession-based.

At advanced stages of implementation, students themselves identify the problems or challenges they want to tackle (pursuit-based.) The teacher then works to infuse the curriculum into those pursuit-based tasks.

The key is to launch a unit with the problem or challenge so that it drives a "felt need" to learn (as opposed to using it as a culminating activity.)