Project Workbook PDF

Public

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Version 1.0
Date: January 2025

This workbook is meant to be used, not shelved.
If you received this from a friend, please get your own copy to support our mission at incite-literacy.org/workbook

Learn by Building. Question While Creating. Think Through Doing.

Here’s what you’ll discover: failing is data. Messy is normal. Not knowing is where learning begins.

This workbook exists to prove three things:

You already have ideas worth building
You can figure out what you don’t know
Real learning happens when you create something that matters to you

How to Use This Workbook

Think of this as a conversation with yourself, not a test with right answers.

The Process:

Step 1: Find your starting point (frustration, skill, or problem)
Step 2: Choose a template and write your project statement
Steps 3-5: Work through one week at a time, building something real

Important:

Skip what doesn’t help
Change what doesn’t fit
Question everything—including this workbook
The goal is to eventually throw this away

Digital or Print?

Digital: Save a copy for each project, type directly in
Print: Use pencil—your ideas will change

Remember: You’re not learning to follow our process. You’re learning to trust your own.

How This Aligns with Gold Standard PBL

This workbook follows the research-backed Gold Standard Project Based Learning framework from PBLWorks. Here’s how:

Essential Design Elements Built Into Every Project:

✓ Challenging Problem or Question
Each template starts with a driving question that frames your entire project

✓ Sustained Inquiry
Week 2 focuses on research and knowledge building with guided investigation

✓ Authenticity
You identify real people who need your solution and test with actual users

✓ Student Voice & Choice
Choose your template, adapt the process, question everything—your project, your way

✓ Reflection
Weekly reflection prompts help you process learning and adjust your approach

✓ Critique & Revision
Built-in feedback loops and iteration cycles improve your work

✓ Public Product
Every project ends with sharing your creation with a real audience

Why This Matters: You’re not just doing a project—you’re using the same framework that drives innovation at Stanford’s d.school, IDEO, and leading schools worldwide. This isn’t made-up structure; it’s how real learning happens.

Step 1: Find Your Starting Point

What brought you here? Check the one that feels most true:

☐ “Something frustrates me and I want to fix it”
→ Use the Challenge template (page 4)

☐ “I have a skill/knowledge I want to share”
→ Use the Objective template (page 6)

☐ “I see something broken that needs solving”
→ Use the Problem template (page 8)

☐ “I just want to build something cool”
→ Use any template that feels right

Step 2: Write Your Project Statement

Based on your starting point, fill in ONE template:

💡 Quick tip: Different project types need different validation:

Challenge = validate with many (is this frustration widespread?)
Objective = start with one (perfect your approach first)
Problem = verify with a few (confirm it’s real)

📚 How this connects to PBL & DT: All three templates use Project-Based Learning (starting with a driving question) and Design Thinking (empathize → define → ideate → prototype → test). They just offer different entry points based on what you bring—a frustration, a skill, or a problem you’ve spotted. Every path leads to the same outcome: real learning through real creation.

📚 Note: This workbook uses Project-Based Learning to structure your work. While following these steps, you’ll naturally experience elements of Design Thinking through your activities. Don’t worry about the labels—focus on the doing.

CHALLENGE Template

For when something frustrates you

Your template: “How might I [improve/create/solve] [specific frustration] for [who needs this]?”

Fill it in here:

How might I [improve/create/solve]:

for [who needs this]:

Example: How might I make healthy eating easier for busy families?

Why this template: Challenges start with frustration. You’re not sure of the solution yet, but you know something needs to be better.

Next Steps for Your Challenge Project:

Week 1: Launch Project
Talk to 5 people who share this frustration, clarify your challenge

Week 2: Build Knowledge
Research existing solutions, brainstorm 10 ideas, pick the simplest

Week 3: Develop & Create
Build a rough working version (take the risk, skip perfection)

Week 4: Present & Reflect
Share with those 5 people, gather feedback, document learning

CHALLENGE: Track Your Progress

Note: The “Stuck?” suggestions are AI prompts. Replace [bracketed text] with your specific project details, then use with ChatGPT or other AI tools.

Week 1: Launch Project

☐ Project launched Date: _______________

Key learning (What surprised you?):

AI prompts that helped:

AI safety reflection: What personal info did you protect from AI?

Stuck? Copy to AI: “Help me create 5 questions to ask people who are frustrated by [your topic here]”

Notes:

Week 2: Build Knowledge

☐ Knowledge built Date: _______________

Key learning (What will you change?):

AI prompts that helped:

AI safety reflection: What AI “fact” turned out to be wrong?

Stuck? Copy to AI: “Generate 10 creative solutions for [your challenge here], including both high-tech and no-tech options”

Notes:

Week 3: Develop & Create

☐ Solution created Date: _______________

Key learning (What was harder than expected?):

AI prompts that helped:

AI safety reflection: Where did you choose YOUR way over AI’s suggestion?

Stuck? Copy to AI: “What’s the absolute simplest version of [your solution here] I could build in 2 hours?”

Notes:

Week 4: Present & Reflect

☐ Presented & reflected Date: _______________

Key learning (What would you tell someone else?):

AI prompts that helped:

AI safety reflection: What will you teach someone else about using AI safely?

Stuck? Copy to AI: “Create a feedback form with 5 questions to ask testers about [your solution here]”

Notes:

OBJECTIVE Template

For when you have a skill to share

Your template: “My goal is to [specific outcome] by [your method] so that [the change you want to see].”

Fill it in here:

My goal is to [specific outcome]:

by [your method]:

so that [the change you want to see]:

Example: My goal is to teach 20 seniors basic smartphone skills by creating simple video tutorials so that they can stay connected with family.

Why this template: Objectives start with something you can do. You know your skill; you need to find who needs it.

Next Steps for Your Objective Project:

Week 1: Launch Project
Define what success looks like, identify who needs your skill

Week 2: Build Knowledge
Research how others teach this, find your first person to help

Week 3: Develop & Create
Build the smallest way to deliver value

Week 4: Present & Reflect
Help that person, gather feedback, document what worked

OBJECTIVE: Track Your Progress

Note: The “Stuck?” suggestions are AI prompts. Replace [bracketed text] with your specific project details, then use with ChatGPT or other AI tools.

Week 1: Launch Project

☐ Project launched Date: _______________

Key learning (What surprised you?):

AI prompts that helped:

AI safety reflection: What personal info did you protect from AI?

Stuck? Copy to AI: “What would success look like for teaching [your skill here] to [your audience here]?”

Notes:

Week 2: Build Knowledge

☐ Knowledge built Date: _______________

Key learning (What will you change?):

AI prompts that helped:

AI safety reflection: What AI “fact” turned out to be wrong?

Stuck? Copy to AI: “Where would I find people who need help with [your skill here]?”

Notes:

Week 3: Develop & Create

☐ Solution created Date: _______________

Key learning (What was harder than expected?):

AI prompts that helped:

AI safety reflection: Where did you choose YOUR way over AI’s suggestion?

Stuck? Copy to AI: “Break down [your skill here] into 5 micro-lessonhttps://www.google.com/search?q=Where+is+the+less+expensive+and+safe+place+to+live+in+the+US%3F&oq=Where+is+the+less+expensive+and+safe+place+to+live+in+the+US%3F&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAjIHCAIQIRiPAtIBCjIyMjYwajFqMTWoAgiwAgHxBTAo1I5kiAqE8QUwKNSOZIgKhA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8s a beginner could follow”

Notes:

Week 4: Present & Reflect

☐ Presented & reflected Date: _______________

Key learning (What would you tell someone else?):

AI prompts that helped:

AI safety reflection: What will you teach someone else about using AI safely?

Stuck? Copy to AI: “How can I document what happened when I helped someone with [your skill here]?”

Notes:

PROBLEM Template

For when you see something broken

Your template: “The problem is [what’s broken]. I will [your solution] to [the outcome].”

Fill it in here:

The problem is [what’s broken]:

I will [your solution]:

to [the outcome]:

Example: The problem is local small businesses have no online presence. I will create simple website templates to help them reach more customers.

Why this template: Problems are clear and specific. You can point to what’s wrong and envision it fixed.

Next Steps for Your Problem Project:

Week 1: Launch Project
Verify the problem with 3 people, define it clearly

Week 2: Build Knowledge
Research existing solutions, understand why they fall short

Week 3: Develop & Create
Design and build your simpler/better approach

Week 4: Present & Reflect
Test with real users, gather feedback, document insights

PROBLEM: Track Your Progress

Note: The “Stuck?” suggestions are AI prompts. Replace [bracketed text] with your specific project details, then use with ChatGPT or other AI tools.

Week 1: Launch Project

☐ Project launched Date: _______________

Key learning (What surprised you?):

AI prompts that helped:

AI safety reflection: What personal info did you protect from AI?

Stuck? Copy to AI: “Help me create 3 questions to verify if [your problem here] is really affecting people”

Notes:

Week 2: Build Knowledge

☐ Knowledge built Date: _______________

Key learning (What will you change?):

AI prompts that helped:

AI safety reflection: What AI “fact” turned out to be wrong?

Stuck? Copy to AI: “What existing solutions are there for [your problem here] and why might they not be working?”

Notes:

Week 3: Develop & Create

☐ Solution created Date: _______________

Key learning (What was harder than expected?):

AI prompts that helped:

AI safety reflection: Where did you choose YOUR way over AI’s suggestion?

Stuck? Copy to AI: “How could I solve [your problem here] in a simpler way than existing solutions?”

Notes:

Week 4: Present & Reflect

☐ Presented & reflected Date: _______________

Key learning (What would you tell someone else?):

AI prompts that helped:

AI safety reflection: What will you teach someone else about using AI safely?

Stuck? Copy to AI: “Create a simple test plan for my solution to [your problem here]”

Notes:

Step 3: Reality Check

Before you start building, answer these questions:

Who specifically will use this? (Name actual people if possible)

What’s the smallest version you could build this week?

What might stop you? How will you handle it?

Who can you show this to for honest feedback?

Step 4: Your Week-by-Week Plan

Use this general checklist alongside your specific template tracking:

Week 1: Launch Your Project

☐ Define your driving question clearly
☐ Talk to people affected by this challenge
☐ Research the problem/opportunity
☐ Refine your project statement

Week 2: Build Your Knowledge

☐ Research existing solutions or approaches
☐ Gather resources and tools you’ll need
☐ Brainstorm multiple possibilities
☐ Choose your approach (your voice matters)

Week 3: Develop & Create

☐ Build your solution (1 hour minimum daily)
☐ Make choices about design and approach
☐ Keep it simple but functional
☐ Document your creative process

Week 4: Present & Reflect

☐ Share with real audience (3+ people)
☐ Gather specific feedback
☐ Reflect on what you learned
☐ Celebrate what you created

Step 5: Common Roadblocks (and Solutions)

“I don’t know where to start”

Start with one person’s problem. Just one. Solve it manually first, then build tools.

“My idea keeps changing”

Good. That means you’re learning. Write down each version—you might come back to earlier ideas.

“No one seems interested”

Either you’re talking to the wrong people, or solving the wrong problem. Try a different angle.

“The tech seems too hard”

Every tool has YouTube tutorials. Start with no-code options. Use AI to help you learn.

“I don’t have time”

Track where your time goes for one day. Find 30 minutes. That’s enough to start.

When You’re Stuck

Three questions to unstick yourself:

What’s the real problem I’m solving? (Get specific)
Who has this problem the most? (Get more specific)
What’s the absolute simplest solution? (Even simpler than that)

Gradual Independence

First project: Use every step in this workbook
Second project: Skip the parts that feel obvious
Third project: Just use the template
Fourth project: You won’t need this at all

That’s the goal—to not need this workbook.

Additional Resources

Need more help?

AI Tools Guide: [incite-literacy.org/ai-tools]
Project Examples: [incite-literacy.org/projects]
Community Support: [incite-literacy.org/community]
Contact Us: [monique@incite-literacy.org]

Share Your Success:

Tag us: @inciteliteracy
Use hashtag: #InciteYourProject
Email your story: success@incite-literacy.org

Project Completion Certificate

🎉 I COMPLETED MY PROJECT! 🎉

Project Name:

Project Type: ☐ Challenge ☐ Objective ☐ Problem

Start Date: _______________ End Date: _______________

What I Built:

My Biggest Learning:

What I’m Most Proud Of:

My Next Project Idea:

Signature: _________________________________ Date: _______________

This workbook is training wheels. Use it as long as it helps. Abandon it when you’re ready to ride on your own.