Project based learning right from schooling

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Project Based Learning

• True learning is based on discovery rather than
  the transmission of knowledge.-John Dewey

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Imagine this.

• You look for the teacher as you enter his
  classroom.
• She isnt located at the front end
• Slowly you trace her among a group of students
• You further notice students in several groups
  working seriously
• You are curious to check what they are doing
• But you dont dare breaking their concentration
• The teacher notices you and starts towards you
• As she passes every group stops her to proudly
  show off their work
• You talk for 8 minutes and notice are still
  engrossed, animated and focused

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Project-based learning is going on. in her
classroom

• Its a dynamic approach to teaching
• Students explore real-world problems and
  challenges
• Makes school more like real life

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History of PBL

• 1960s-recorded
• 1970s- McMaster University medical school
• 1985-Llinois Math Science Academy
• 1990s- Medical schools across North America
  Europe
• 200s and beyond- Elementary schools, middle
  schools, high schools, universities and
  professional schools

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PBL-Advantages

• Resembles real life problems
• Well structured
• Engages students better
• Relevant and meaningful to the learner
• Enables learners articulate their feelings
• Increases critical thinking, collaboration,
  communication, reasoning, synthesis, and
  resilience among students
• Builds people skills and improves the overall
  attitude of the learners

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PBL- Planning

• Start with the end in mind
• Select a problem/task
• Select the content/method/design assessment
• Set the stage (Lead-in and elicit)
• Set the guidelines
• Anchor the activity (Eg Human trafficking)
• Guide the task (Resources and links)
• Let the students investigate -search
  library/browse web/seek experts ideas
• Let the students brainstorm/negotiate/collaborate/
  resolve conflicts
• Let the students create and present artifact

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Dimensions of PBL

• Core curriculum
• Real-world connection
• Extended time frame
• Student decision making
• Collaboration
• Assessment
• Multimedia

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Role of a Teacher

• Select authentic tasks
• Structure the lesson and activity
• Model
• Coach
• Scaffold
• Provide feedback
• Facilitate learning

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Role of Students

• Construct their own knowledge
• Stay self-directed
• Work on the task
• Take the ownership of learning
• Learn on a broader perspective

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The other side

• Time consuming
• Challenging
• Teacher role isnt conspicuous
• Teacher has to do a lot of background work
• Learners need to shoulder the responsibility of
  learning
• walking an extra mile
• Teething troubles

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A good project

• Isnt a one-shot lesson
• Extends over a period of time (days/weeks/months)
• May vary with the age of students
• Students derive pride and a clear sense of
  accomplishment
• Is a powerful real-world learning experience

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Some guidelines to develop units based on this
strategy

• Any subject/any grade/Learner-centered themes
• A realistic problem or project
• aligns with students' skills and interests
• requires learning clearly defined content and
  skills (e.g. using rubrics, or examples from
  local professionals and students)
• Structured group work
• groups of three to four students, with diverse
  skill levels and interdependent roles
• team rewards
• individual accountability, based on student
  growth
• Multi-faceted assessment
• multiple opportunities for students to receive
  feedback and revise their work (e.g., benchmarks,
  reflective activities)
• multiple learning outcomes (e.g.,
  problem-solving, content, collaboration)
• presentations that encourage participation and
  signal social value (e.g. exhibitions,
  portfolios, performances, reports)
• Participation in a professional learning network
• collaborating and reflecting upon PBL experiences
  in the classroom with colleagues
• courses in inquiry-based teaching methods

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Related URLs to PBL

• A number of online networks support teachers to
  develop their expertise in PBL methods. PBL
  teachers share project ideas, receive feedback,
  and interact with other PBL classrooms using
  these links
•  Buck Institute for Education's (BIE)
  Project-Based Learning network on Edmodo 
•  Edutopia's PBL discussion group.
• BIEs free project-based-learning resources
•  online professional-development courses in PBL.

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The Focal point

• We neednt teach language or content to our
  students, we have to teach language plus content,
  and we should make it meaningful with social
  purpose.

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The Makeover
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A shift mandated by the global world
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Bottom line

• PBL fosters life-long learners,
• and..
• life-long learners make good citizens

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