Strengthening Pathways with ARCHES: WE Will! PBL Workshop Impacts Gustine Unified Schools

In June, ten dedicated educators from Gustine High School participated in a transformative two-day Project Based Learning (PBL) workshop sponsored by the WE Will! Collaborative that exemplified the collaborative approach needed between K-12 education and industry partners. The diverse group included business pathway, patient care pathway, mathematics, and arts teachers, demonstrating how PBL can bridge academic disciplines while preparing students for real-world careers. Participants designed authentic units of study, moving beyond traditional classroom approaches to create learning experiences that mirror actual workplace challenges and skill building as well as integrating work based learning experiences with industry partners in the form of guest speakers, industry tours, industry mentoring and informational interviews.

The workshop's impact was immediate and practical, with teachers developing concrete skills in facilitating student-driven learning, crafting essential questions, and implementing assessment strategies that reflect career readiness standards. Educators particularly valued learning how to bring authentic workplace experiences into their classrooms and connecting their projects directly to college and career pathways, ensuring students experience authentic problem-solving and collaboration skills that employers demand. The collaborative and intentional approach allowed participants to create usable PBL units during the training, bridging the critical gap between professional development and classroom implementation that supports seamless workforce preparation. One participant emphasized that they realized “the importance of letting students drive their own learning and what they need to learn.” Another shared that they found the experience to be “...an excellent layout of how to organize PBL and how to engage students with one driving question.”

This professional learning experience demonstrates the power of bringing together K-12 educators, postsecondary connections, and industry-aligned practices in one cohesive framework. The enthusiasm and practical outcomes from these educators show how effective PBL training can strengthen the pipeline from classroom to career, ensuring students develop both academic knowledge and work-based learning skills through meaningful educational experiences that prepare them for success in their chosen pathways.