In today's rapidly evolving educational environment, meeting the demands of career and college readiness and equipping students with the skills they need to succeed in the real world is critical for student success and growth. Project-based learning (PBL) has emerged as a powerful instructional approach that bridges academic standards and concepts with real-world applications. By engaging students in meaningful projects through Defined, educators can foster collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving skills, and many more transversal skills.

This reflective guide serves as a comprehensive checklist for instructional coaches and administrators, outlining key indicators of effective project-based learning that incorporate performance tasks, career relevance, and the application of transversal skills in the classroom. It highlights specific elements to look for in the classroom environment through teacher practices and student engagement.