A New Direction
This past decade has been an exciting one here at Lucas Education Research and the George Lucas Educational Foundation. During this time, we have done a tremendous job researching and developing the evidence-base for high-quality project-based learning, leading to the release of multiple, peer-reviewed studies showing PBL improves student outcomes across grades and subjects. This has led to school and system-level adoptions of strong PBL programs and the development of high-quality, freely- available instructional materials.
Informed by this work, LER is evolving its mission, moving in a new but related direction. LER’s new mission will be to design and develop software simulation programs for interdisciplinary, project-based learning in schools, using the design principles that have been validated by our decade of research. This new focus will leverage George Lucas’ insights and experience in media, gaming and filmmaking.