Meet the Founder
About Me
I’m Ryan Steuer – author and thought leader who specializes in Project Based Learning training, coaching, community, and content to help educational leaders fulfill their vision of deeper learning in their schools.
I believe that educators can change the world…no seriously!
In my classroom (and likely yours too), I saw students who did not value education because the system did not serve their family well. If we can change the view of education in a student’s eyes, then they will raise their family to value education. Thus, the work we do in the classroom can have an exponential impact on changing the world.
My goal is to help 51% of schools implement Project Based Learning in the classroom by the year 2051. When the majority of our students are graduating with employability skills and purpose, we will have a world that can create instead of destroy, collaborate instead of yell, and problem-solve instead of complain.
I’ve worked with leaders in school districts of all sizes, from 400 students to 100,000 students. These visionary leaders care about their students, but they are often stressed, overworked, and overwhelmed with the work ahead of them. That’s where I come in! I help leaders achieve their PBL vision, lead their staff, AND stop working weekends.
When I’m not guiding school leaders through Project Based Learning mindset shifts, I am outdoors with my wife and 5 kids – canoeing, hiking, biking, and traveling the US in our RV.
My Top Content
If you are new here, visit www.whatispbl.com to receive a free download to help you get started with Project Based Learning. You will receive helpful PBL resources based on your role as principal, instructional coach, or teacher.
If you already have an idea of where you want to start, check out the PBL resources below which we’ve created
over the last ten years while training 10,000+ educators:
PBL Simplified Podcast
Actually Achieving Your Goals | Episode 113
It's our last episode of the year. We get to talk about reflection. Reflection is a huge part of Project Based Learning. John Maxwell said, "Experience isn't the best teacher, evaluated experience is the best teacher." It's possible to do the wrong thing over and over and never learn from it.
PBL Showcase – Math and PBL | E112
It's our last episode of the year. We get to talk about reflection. Reflection is a huge part of Project Based Learning. John Maxwell said, "Experience isn't the best teacher, evaluated experience is the best teacher." It's possible to do the wrong thing over and over and never learn from it.
How To Create a Winning School Culture – John Bacon | Episode 96
In this guest episode, I'm interviewing coach John bacon. He's the author of Let Them Lead. Coach bacon took the worst team in hockey and turned them around. He was able to empower his players and make them a winning team. It's a great story, and I recommend you listen to the audio version. Hearing the coach tell the story almost makes it seem like a movie, but it's real life.
PBL Simplified Video Series
PBL Simplified for Teachers
PBL Simplified for Leaders (YouTube Playlist)
PBL vs. Project Video
PBL Blog Series
What is Project Based Learning?
In this episode Ryan Steuer provides a clear definition for Project Based Learning. He offers insights on what makes Project Based Learning unique and effective for students. He makes the case that authentic Project Based Learning means students tackling authentic problems and not scenario based problems.
Permission to Dream
At some point in your undergraduate work as an educator, you probably wrote an essay along the lines of, “Why I Want to Teach?”
Leading PBL Implementation Through a Core Team
Change process and leading successful implementation of Project Based Learning requires staff buy-in, leadership support, and a shift in structures and process.
My Story
I grew up in a rural school and was a model student, a three sport athlete with a 4.2 GPA, and on my way to a Big 10 school to become an engineer. I did all of the things you are “supposed” to do as a student to win at school, but I ended up in a career that did not fill me with passion. I was never challenged to think for myself, discover my gifts, or explore my passions.
I transitioned from being an engineer at a Fortune 50 company to teaching 8th grade English at an urban school. It was in that role that I found my true passion. While I was passionate about being in the classroom, I felt traditional teaching practices did not give my learners the opportunities I wanted for them. When one of my former students named Ben dropped out of high school during the first semester of his freshman year, it was a catalyst for me. I knew something about learning had to change in order to truly engage students like Ben.
I was introduced to the concept of Project Based Learning and found that it was the change my learners needed. When I created opportunities for students to interact with real world problems and the professionals who solved these problems, my classroom changed to one of endless opportunities. A team of teachers including myself began a PBL “school within a school” with 25% of the students in our large public middle school. After implementing PBL, that 25% of students comprised only 8% of the disciplinary incidents within the entire school, our attendance was 1.5% better than the general school population, and in a ’F’ rated school, our PBL students performed well enough to earn a ‘B’ rating.
My students were able to meet engineers, bankers, insurance salesmen, women who analyze DNA for the state police, and much more. They were able to see possibilities they would not have imagined without Project Based Learning in the classroom.
Skyler is one of my former students who went from failing all of his courses to becoming a freelance photographer with major sponsors like Coleman camping gear and Monster energy drinks. He is using his passion and has created a way out of generational poverty.
These examples come from my own experiences and those of other educators who have adopted a new mindset around teaching and learning – a mindset that moves students from passive to empowered. The structures and principles of PBL are transferable to any educational situation. It is the perfect environment for educators to learn how to better student outcomes, our communities, and our world.
Project Based Learning is an innovative teaching practice that requires training to reach understanding and mastery. We see positive changes in classrooms across the country as a result of the PBL Workshops and PBL Coaching we provide. We desire long-term positive changes to teacher and student outcomes. This has resulted in close partner relationships and deep long-lasting results for students, teachers and communities.
Many principals have a vision to empower their staff to inspire students, and I see this happening around the country through PBL. Our partnerships can help leaders create a 3-year vision plan to educate and train their staff to bring Project Based Learning to schools and classrooms. When we train and coach principals to plan out and execute their vision, we see teachers thrive. We see principals move from managers to leaders, and teachers become empowered. Teachers are learning and collaborating to find new ways to implement Project Based Learning in their classrooms.
All Magnify Learning PBL Workshops are paired with ongoing PBL Coaching support throughout the school year. Changing mindsets and teaching practices is a continuous process, and Coaching is an integral support structure for teachers who are implementing PBL. Changing education to produce empowered learners is a moral imperative. We will not stand idly by while students are learning to become compliant rather than igniting their passion to allow them to be who they have been called to be. Magnify Learning will create training opportunities and communities to unite educators looking to change student outcomes, communities, and the world.
