Project Based Learning

The concept behind project based learning is that students are more motivated by and learn more through activities that are relevant to the real world.  Rather than rote memorization and drilling of skills, teachers who utilize project based learning present students with a puzzle or problem which students must work to solve.  "Project-based learning (PBL) is a model for classroom activity that shifts away from the classroom practices of short, isolated, teacher-centered lessons and instead emphasizes learning activities that are long-term, interdisciplinary, student-centered, and integrated with real world issues and practices."  

http://pblmm.k12.ca.us/PBLGuide/WhyPBL.html 

 

"In project-based learning, students try to answer a question -- one that has relevance for them -- that is greater than the immediate task at hand."  http://www.edutopia.org/start-pyramid.  So, for example, a classroom might design an amusement park, and in the process of doing that they would use mathematics, writing, engineering, physics, and all the other core subjects in a way that helps students see that these kinds of skills and knowledge are relevant to the real world.  "These activities are designed to answer a question or solve a problem and generally reflect the types of learning and work people do in the everyday world outside the classroom."  http://pbl-online.org/About/whatisPBL.htm

 

Criticism of project based learning is definitely out there.  One of the main areas of complaint is that project based learning usually amounts to learning how to use paper Mache to build a volcano, and does little to prepare students for the SAT or the kinds of things they will need to do in college.  Proponents of this kind of design do admit that if poorly done, project based learning can be a waste of time.  It takes a great deal of effort on the part of the teacher to make it meaningful and effective as a means of really teaching kids new things and pushing them into their Zone of Proximal Development.  Another area of concern related to this design is that, due to the amount of group work involved, some students tend to coast along on the efforts of their more conscientious team members.  If designed well, this kind of behavior does not result in rewards.  "Performance is assessed on an individual basis, and takes into account the quality of the product produced, the depth of content understanding demonstrated, and the contributions made to the ongoing process of project realization."  http://pbl-online.org/About/whatisPBL.htm

 

To prevent some of these downfalls of project base learning, I have changed groups when we are able to transition from one major part to another.  This way they feel like they must know the project better to ensure they will be able to do the next part, regardless of who is in their next group.  Providing projects for students can be a waste of time if the students only see it as a time to play and not see the bigger picture or how it relates to what they were learning during the discussion time.  I sometimes review or discuss the activity so students can hear what other groups did or how it relates to the recent concept that was learned.

 

Prepared by Jennifer Sinclair