Project Based Learning

[Melinda Stanley]

Project Based Learning is an exciting way for students to build content knowledge while building 21st century skills! Share your experiences with project based learning.

[newdiva]

It is an exciting and fun way to teach and my experience is that students learn a lot more this way than conventional methods. However, the project needs to go above and beyond what has been taught in the classroom. In general, students are interested in learning new things and project based learning makes it a lot more fun. Case in point - I delivered a lecture last week on web hosting on why it was important for web designing students to know about it. The lecture went fine, however, when I created a project around it, students loved it. They also had a chance to use a new software (purplenova.com). This software allows anyone (anyone with a very limited compter and technical knowledge of web hosting) to host websites directly form home.

The point is, we have to find the right projects for students so that they not only get knowledge about the topic, but have fun while doing it.

[Darlene Marquardt]

I receive an informative newsletter regarding Project Based Learning

http://www.edutopia.org/edutopianews_pbl.html

[amspann]

I think PBL also allows students to be in control of their learning, a sense of empowerment. Instead of having a teacher stand at the front of the room and tell them what they need to know, they can determine (in a limited sense) the depth of their learning. Moreover, in PBL students are able to show you what you've learned and the challenge can become teaching the teacher something. It really is a powerful tool.

[Raenette Taljaard]

This sounds really interesting. Tell me more. Where can I learn more about it. Our school is currently looking for an inquiry model that is suited to our specific needs. Our kids are from all over the world, and include many Asian, Indian and Pacific Island children, who are eager to learn, but not always that comfortable in English, which is the language we teach in. This sounds ideal.