"The curriculum (should be) meaning-based such that it emphasizes depth over breadth, concepts over facts, and is grounded in real world issues and problems that students care about or need to know." VanTassel-Baska, J. (1995).
"Kids get bored when what they're learning doesn't relate to their lives or isn't deep enough." Richard Strong (1995).
In the problem-based units, students find out what they know, what they need to know, and how to pursue important knowledge in working on a real world problem in small investigatory teams.
We need to focus learning experiences around major issues, themes, and ideas that define real world applications. It is a culture of inquiry where the students help define the problem; collaborate with other; seek ways to find solutions to the problem and are curious. VanTassel-Baska, J. (1995).