Project Based Learning
Published on Jul 08, 2016
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MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
What is Project Based Learning?
https://youtu.be/LMCZvGesRz8
The Foundation of PBL
- Project-based learning is all about student-centered problem solving and engaging students in simulations that mimic real life (Boss 2011).
The Foundation of PBL
- This is NOT a new innovation--it simply looks different in the 21st-century.
- "When project-based learning is infused with technology, it may look and feel like a 21st-century idea, but it's built on a venerable foundation" (Boss 2011).
Early Founders of the Movement
- Confucious--Learning by doing.
- Socrates--Learning by doing.
- Aristotle--Questioning & critical thinking.
20th Century Founders of the Movement
- John Dewey--Challenged the traditional view of the student as a "passive recipient."
- Maria Montessori--Education happens "not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment."
Example Projects
- According to Boss (2011):
- Ask students to create a healthier lunch menu.
- Ask students to investigate a historical event and create a documentary about it.
- Ask students to do literature reviews that are published online and reviewed by other students.
My examples
- I had the juniors and seniors plan our overnight college tour in North Idaho & Washington. They were responsible for getting board approval, planning activities, and then presenting the field trip to the board upon return.
- I had students teach and model the tutorial process to college tutors and fellow district employees.
VHS AVID students visit Gonzaga University on their college field trip.
Why Does It Matter?
- Project-based learning embraces the HACK model by making the learning student-driven. It's more collaborative and thought provoking, and challenges students to think about their own thinking.
- "Relevance plays a big role. Projects give students a real-world context for learning, creating a strong "need to know"" (Boss 2011).
Why does it matter?
- "By design, projects are open-ended. This means students need to consider and evaluate multiple solutions and, perhaps, defend their choices. All these activities engage higher-order thinking skills" (Boss 2011).
Without district support or professional development, this can't successfully happen. There must be a willingness to make change and support teachers above anything else.
Final Thoughts
- Over my last five years of teaching, I have shifted more to a PBL environment and have seen the positive results in student learning and engagement. I have been able to make the change successfully by attending training and summer institutes over the last five summers. Without proper training, guidance, and a willingness to make change, shifting from a traditional style learning environment to a PBL environment can be difficult.
