Challenge-based learning (CBL) is a framework for learning while solving real-world Challenges. The framework is collaborative and hands-on, asking all participants (students, teachers, families, and community members) to identify Big Ideas, ask good questions, discover and solve Challenges, gain in-depth subject area knowledge, develop 21st-century skills, and share their thoughts with the world - wikipedia 
# Phases
The framework in organized into three phases:
__Engage__ – Through a process of Essential Questioning, the Learners move from an abstract Big Idea to a concrete and actionable Challenge.
__Investigate__ – All Learners plan and participate in a journey that builds the foundation for Solutions and addresses academic requirements.
__Act__ – Evidence-based Solutions are developed, implemented with an authentic audience, and then evaluated based on the results.
Throughout the process, all participants are expected to document the experience, reflect on practice and share the experience with the world.
# Description
Challenge-based learning builds on the foundation of experiential learning, leans heavily on the wisdom of a long history of progressive education, shares the many of the goals of service learning, and the activism of critical pedagogy. The framework is informed by innovative ideas from education, media, technology, entertainment, recreation, the workplace, and society.
Using Challenges to frame learning experiences originated from an exploration of reality television, conversations with individuals whose lives center on Challenges, and reflection on personal learning experiences inside and outside of the classroom.
When faced with a Challenge, successful groups and individuals leverage experience, harness internal and external resources, develop a plan and push forward to find the best solution.
Along the way, there is experimentation, failure, success and ultimately consequences for actions. By adding Challenges to learning environments the result is urgency, passion, and ownership – ingredients often missing in schools.