Project Work

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Project Work IT
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What is Project Work?

• A theme-based investigation of a topic
• Integrative use of language
• Through exploring a topic, students construct
  knowledge, develop and exercise communicative,
  critical thinking skills and creativity.
• An opportunity for Curiosity, Fun and Achievement.

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Project topics

• within the experiences of most of the students
• of interest to them
• manageable and with focus
• related to their everyday life/ learning
  target(s) / subjects across different KLAs
• Mode
• Individual and small group

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Role of IT in Project Work

• A tool for searching information
• e.g. via searching engines on the Internet
• A tool for data analysis
• e.g. spreadsheets
• A tool for expression
• e.g. presentation software (text and graphics)
• A tool for communication
• e.g. email, forum

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Benefits of doing Project Work

• Opportunities for learner to make choices or
  decisions
• Develop independence and a sense of
  responsibility in learning
• Go into the community and preparation for life
• Exercise scheduling and time management skills
• The Process and opportunity to build the
  participant's personality

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Benefits of Using IT

• Enables the teacher to motivate students
• Provides different media and tools
• Promotes the development of generic skills e.g.
  problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking
  skills
• Promotes collaborative learning
• Provides a platform for teachers and students to
  communicate and share ideas

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Benefits of Using IT

• Promotes self-learning
• Transcends the limit of time and space
• Allows students to interact with teachers, fellow
  students and the outside world
• Develops life-long learning attitudes and skills

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Project Work in ELT

• A useful way to integrate the four skills
• Initial stage listening and speaking
• Implementation stage reading, writing (process
  writing), listening and speaking
• Conclusion stage speaking and writing
• Sample projects
• http//wcs.hkcampus.net/wcs-ddd/Cyber_zoo_opening
  .html
• http//resources.ed.gov.hk/project_work/elib.htm

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Implementation Plan

• Initial Stage - Beginning the Project
• Select a topic
• Discuss the topic
• Develop research questions and assign task
• Implementation Stage - Developing the Project
• Provide resources
• Suggest ways to investigate the topic
• Provide feedback on what students have done
• Enable students to be aware of the different work
  being done through class discussion and display

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Implementation Plan

• Concluding Stage Presenting the Project
• Arrange opportunities to share the end-product
  and experiences
• Offer pupils imaginative ways of personalising
  their new knowledge besides reporting back e.g
  through art, stories and drama
• Reflect on the process of the whole project and
  record feedback

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Role of the Teacher

• Mentor Counselor
• Advisor Language Consultant
• Designer/ Engineer
• Manager / Coordinator
• Resource Provider Facilitator
• Participant in the learning activities
• Assessor

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Assessing a Project

• Why assess?
• To improve the quality of the learning and
  teaching process
• What to assess?
• Not just the end product
• Pupils performance throughout the process e.g.
  their understanding of the topic, grasp of new
  knowledge and skills, dedication to the project,
  cooperation with others, etc.

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Assessing a Project

• Who and whom to assess?
• Teacher assessment
• Teacher assessing students
• Peer assessment
• Students assessing each other
• Self-assessment
• Students assessing themselves
• Teacher assessing himself/herself

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Characteristics of a Successful Project

• Open-mindedness, respect for evidence
• Contribution and participation by each and every
  individual in the project team
• First hand experiences in the translation of
  concepts into action
• Group work requiring co-operation and development
  of interpersonal and collaborative skills