Submitted by Virginia (not verified) on March 10, 2008 - 16:12.
I've been reading a lot about PBL lately, and I really liked what the Buck Institute had to say - which is basically what I think you are saying - direct instruction is still necessary for basic skills. My assumption is that you have to start from the top and work down. Decide what skills you hope your students leave your classroom with and then design a project that aims towards those - assuming basic skills are there, or at least attainable in the course of the project. Also, may be it is a matter or just giving it a go and seeing what needs to be done. Maybe you start with some assumptions, learn you are wrong and build in instructional time for what is missing. Of course, I've only done small projects working towards doing something bigger and I teach in a private school where I have more freedom than the average public school teacher.
PBL and the Buck Institute model
Submitted by Virginia (not verified) on March 10, 2008 - 16:12.
I've been reading a lot about PBL lately, and I really liked what the Buck Institute had to say - which is basically what I think you are saying - direct instruction is still necessary for basic skills. My assumption is that you have to start from the top and work down. Decide what skills you hope your students leave your classroom with and then design a project that aims towards those - assuming basic skills are there, or at least attainable in the course of the project. Also, may be it is a matter or just giving it a go and seeing what needs to be done. Maybe you start with some assumptions, learn you are wrong and build in instructional time for what is missing. Of course, I've only done small projects working towards doing something bigger and I teach in a private school where I have more freedom than the average public school teacher.