Problem Based Learning (PBL) Foundations: A Short Teacher Training Series
The Young Smart Cities PBL Training consists of seven short videos introducing teachers to the core principles of problem-based learning and its relevance in today’s classrooms. The training shows why teaching should go beyond knowledge transmission and instead strengthen students’ ability to tackle real, open-ended problems responsibly and creatively. A central concept is Outcome Orientation, which shifts the focus from what students know to what they can do with what they know.
Building on this idea, the didactic concept behind the course invites teachers to guide students through problems that do not have a single predefined solution. This creates space to reflect on personal attitudes, consider alternative perspectives and explore multiple ways of designing solutions. To support this, the training draws on two key approaches adapted for our project: the method of “working with projects” (PBL – Project Based Learning) and the concept of “holistic action”, a didactic approach originating from vocational education.
Each video covers one key component of PBL:
Video 1 – Outcome Orientation: Why modern education must develop students’ ability to act and make decisions in real situations, shifting the focus from knowledge transmission to competence development.
Video 2 – PBL Definition: A clear definition of PBL and what makes a learning situation genuinely problem-based, explaining how teachers can implement this approach in the classroom.
Video 3 – Finding PBL Cases: How to identify authentic problems with real project potential, using criteria that define what counts as a strong PBL case for Young Smart Cities.
Video 4 – PBL Topics (Practical Examples): Practical examples of strong and weak PBL cases that help teachers reflect on whether a problem offers a meaningful solution space and can serve as a solid basis for project work.
Videos 5, 6, 7 – Introduction to COMET: COMET is a competence-based assessment method that helps teachers evaluate how holistically students think and act (functionally, creatively, sustainably and responsibly). The three videos explain what COMET measures, how its eight criteria work, and how teachers can use the tool to give structured feedback on PBL work.
All videos are in English, but YouTube subtitles are available in multiple languages and can be activated directly in the video player. Teachers may select the subtitle language that best supports their needs.
21st-Century Skills Foundations: A Short Teacher Training Series
The Young Smart Cities Skills Training consists of 15 short videos introducing teachers to five core competencies essential for preparing students to navigate an increasingly complex world: empathy, digital literacy, exploratory thinking and collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.
Each competency is presented through a set of three interconnected videos, offering teachers a deeper understanding of the skill, why it is relevant today, and how to foster it through meaningful learning experiences.
The training reflects a shift from traditional knowledge transmission to developing students’ capacity to act, reflect, collaborate, and innovate in real-world contexts.
Overview of the Five Skills (3 videos per skill):
1. Empathy (Videos 1–3)
The first three videos explore empathy as a fundamental social-emotional skill that influences how students understand others, engage in dialogue, and contribute to inclusive learning environments.
Teachers learn how empathy goes beyond kindness—it involves perspective-taking, emotional interpretation, and responsive communication.
The videos present strategies for building emotionally safe classrooms, supporting respectful interactions, and using structured reflection to help students recognize experiences different from their own. Practical examples highlight how empathy supports conflict resolution and strengthens classroom cohesion.
2. Digital Literacy (Videos 4–6)
This skill cluster focuses on students’ ability to navigate, evaluate, and participate in digital environments responsibly.
The videos broaden the concept beyond basic tool use, emphasizing critical information processing, online safety, and digital citizenship.
Teachers learn methods for integrating digital tasks that encourage media analysis, creative production, and responsible communication. The videos illustrate how thoughtful use of digital tools can enrich inquiry, collaboration, and problem-solving across subjects.
3. Exploratory Thinking & Collaboration (Videos 7–9)
These three videos combine two deeply connected competencies: open-ended exploration and effective teamwork.
Teachers discover how to design learning experiences where students investigate unfamiliar topics, ask deeper questions, and develop ideas collaboratively rather than working in isolation.
The content highlights structures that support cooperative inquiry, including shared roles, communication routines, and collective reflection. Examples show how exploratory group work fosters curiosity, negotiation, and mutual support.
This combined skill helps students co-create knowledge, embrace uncertainty, and generate solutions together.
4. Critical Thinking (Videos 10–12)
Teachers learn how to design learning activities that challenge students to examine sources, evaluate arguments, identify biases, and justify their reasoning.
Through practical examples, the videos show how classroom dialogue, inquiry tasks, and structured debates can help students become reflective, discerning thinkers able to navigate misinformation and complex issues.
5. Creativity (Videos 13–15)
The final set of videos focuses on creativity as a dynamic and practical competency that enables students to generate ideas, experiment with alternatives, and develop innovative solutions.
Teachers explore strategies for creating open, flexible learning environments where students feel safe to take risks, reframe problems, and draw connections between unrelated concepts.Examples then demonstrate these strategies through design tasks, prototyping, role-play, and imaginative activities.
The videos emphasize creativity not as spontaneous inspiration but as a repeatable process that grows through practice, curiosity, and constructive feedback.
All videos are in English. Teachers can activate subtitles directly in the player and choose the language most suitable for their needs.