Services
Why Teach with Project Learning?
by Edutopia Staff
Project learning, also known as project-based learning, is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges, simultaneously developing cross-curriculum skills while working in small collaborative groups.
Because project learning is filled with active and engaged learning, it inspires students to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they're studying. Research also indicates that students are more likely to retain the knowledge gained through this approach far more readily than through traditional textbook-centered learning. In addition, students develop confidence and self-direction as they move through both team-based and independent work.
VIDEO: Project Based Learning Overview
Running Time: 9 min.
In the process of completing their projects, students also hone their organizational and research skills, develop better communication with their peers and adults, and often work within their community while seeing the positive effect of their work.
Because students are evaluated on the basis of their projects, rather than on the comparatively narrow rubrics defined by exams, essays, and written reports, assessment of project-based work is often more meaningful to them. They quickly see how academic work can connect to real-life issues -- and may even be inspired to pursue a career or engage in activism that relates to the project they developed.
Students also thrive on the greater flexibility of project learning. In addition to participating in traditional assessment, they might be evaluated on presentations to a community audience they have assiduously prepared for, informative tours of a local historical site based on their recently acquired expertise, or screening of a scripted film they have painstakingly produced.
Project learning is also an effective way to integrate technology into the curriculum. A typical project can easily accommodate computers and the Internet, as well as interactive whiteboards, global-positioning-system (GPS) devices, digital still cameras, video cameras and associated editing equipment.
Adopting a project-learning approach in your classroom or school can invigorate your learning environment, energizing the curriculum with a real-world relevance and sparking students' desire to explore, investigate, and understand their world. Return to our Project Learning page to learn more.
Why Teach with Project Learning?
Submitted by John Peters (not verified) on May 12, 2008 - 20:22.
Students have the skills to participate in Project Based Learning projects. They are already skilled at embedding videos, photos, widgets, etc into their MySpace and Facebook accounts.
We just have to take those existing skills and show them how to use them on a collaborative project and you will be amazed at what they can produce if given the chance.
Technology integration makes project learning "pop"
Submitted by Becky (not verified) on April 30, 2008 - 08:00.
Technology integration is what makes project learning "pop". Children are engaged in learning in order to "present" project results. No matter how it is downplayed, competition drives children to have the best technological project results. I like it!
Why teach with project-based learning?
Submitted by ajantha (not verified) on April 16, 2008 - 05:30.
I do hope the contents are really useful to any educator who explores new learning and how to integrate ICT in learning and teaching for better results.
Post new comment