Project Based Learning Kasey Gary

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Project Based LearningKasey Gary Shellie
Hamilton
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Driving Question
How does PBL affect the learning
community?
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Investigative Question
How does Project Based Learning affect student
learning?
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Hypothesis
Project Based Learning supports various learning
styles by allowing students to make choices.
Students strengths, creativity, and interests
allow flexibility in what choices they make.
Therefore, Students view of Project Based
Learning is a fun-filled, meaningful method
of learning.
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PBL
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What is PBL from a students point of view?

• Learner centered and self-motivating.
• Encourages collaboration and cooperative
  learning.
• Allows students to make improvements on their
  products.
• Students are actively engaged in doing things
  rather than in learning about something.
• Is challenging, with a focus on higher-order
  skills.

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Learner Centered, Self-Motivating

• Students have choice of topics and content of
  the project.
• Same project can be given to students with
  different backgrounds.
• Students can do research using a variety of
  resources.
• Students learn to assess their own work.

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Cooperative Learning

• A team of students may work on the project.
• Peer coaching is taught and encouraged.
• Students learn to provide constructive feedback
  to self and peers.

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Continual Improvement

• Project expectations and guidelines are
  well-defined to allow for continual revision.
• Project is viewed as a process rather than a
  product.
• Students make decisions on how to use their time.

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Actively Engaged

• Conversations, movement, sharing and helping each
  other is the norm.
• Teacher circulates within the classroom,
  interacting, and providing feedback to the groups.

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Challenging

• There is a focus on higher-order skills.
• Project facilitates learning.
• Project encourages students to experiment, take
  risks, and learn from their mistakes.

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DATA
TEACHERS OBSERVATIONS OF CHANGES IN STUDENT
PARTICIPATION IN CLASS Change Cited Number
of Times Cited Increased engagement and
motivation 28 Greater responsibility for learning
20 Increased peer collaboration skills 19 Greater
confidence and self-esteem 9 Increased attention
to an external audience 8 Greater content mastery
7 More peer teaching 7 Better technology skills
5 More time on task 4 More skill in analyzing and
solving problems 3
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Conclusion

• Traditional teaching strategies tend to focus
  on verbal and written activities. John Dewey
  theorized that learning should not only prepare
  one for life, but should also be an integral part
  of life itself. Our society values individuals
  who can solve problems creatively and use
  multiple strengths.

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Conclusion Cont.

• Constructivists suggest that learning is not
  linear. Instead, learning occurs at a very uneven
  pace and proceeds in many different directions at
  once.

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Resources

• How to Assess Authentic Learning. Skylight
  Training and Publishing Inc.
• Why Should Educators be involved in Problem-Based
  Learning? www.samford.edu
• Moursund, David. Project-Based Learning Using
  Information Technology. ISTE in Education, 1999.
• Problem-Based Learning. SkyLight Training and
  Publishing.
• Using Multiple Intelligences. www.4teachers.org