This episode of the PBL Simplified Podcast for Teachers features an engaging conversation between host Ryan Steuer and guest educator Ronni, a high school chemistry teacher from Maryland. Ronni shares her unexpected journey into education, from aspiring accountant to passionate science teacher, and how project-based learning (PBL) transformed her classroom. She explains how she had always leaned toward hands-on, project-driven instruction, but discovering formal PBL helped her amplify student engagement and connect learning to real-world impact.

A standout story highlights her students redesigning a nuclear emergency flyer for their community—work that led to actual improvements by the power company. Ronni emphasizes that authentic audience and community involvement increase student accountability, motivation, and pride. She also shares how PBL shifted disengaged students into active learners and helped build critical presentation skills that extend beyond the classroom.

The conversation offers practical advice for teachers at any stage of their PBL journey: start small, incorporate real-world audiences, and don’t fear failure—iteration is part of the process. Ronni’s biggest takeaway is simple yet powerful: just try it. The rewards for both teachers and students are immediate and lasting.

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