While looking through the list of learning to do research on for this week, Project-based learning caught my attention. As I was researching, I found an article on National Education Association that explains a lot about project-based learning and has a few extra websites and PDFs on project-based learning. In the article Research Spotlight on Project-Based Learning, the author wrote that PBL actually has been around since the early 1900s, John Dewey supported the “learning by doing” approach to education. Which was exactly what popped in mind when I read project-based learning. It’s a way of learning through doing and creating something. Why use project-based learning in your classroom? Believe it or not, most student would rather create and make projects in class than listening to boring lectures. Especially for younger kids, they learn better when they get to do fun projects instead of note taking. In the article Why Project Based Learning(PBL)? The author wrote that it is backed by research, PBL is an effective and enjoyable way to learn- and develop deeper learning competencies required for success in college, career, and civic life. The author also gave a lot of great reasons of why students and teachers need PBL in their classrooms. What Project-based learning looks and sound like in a classroom is just like the title, project-based. Teachers let students use classroom period or sometimes outside of class to make projects based on what they’re studying. It helps students socialize in class and enjoy class by creating a project. This also goes back to creativity, it helps students to be creative when it comes to project-based learning. The students are typically making a project and the classroom space is organized depending on the teacher and what project they’re making. The one most common project I can think of on top of my head are posters, teachers usually group students in 2-4 people per group so everyone has a part in the project. A time spent in a classroom for project-based learning usually depends on the teacher and the lesson plan as well. Most teachers give their students one or two classes to finish their project and end the project with presentation. I would use project-based learning because I think it’s a great way for students to learn. For me, I learn a lot more when I am doing something. I know project-based learning is a popular one for educators use in their classrooms because students can have fun with learning. So I feel like that’s why a teacher would choose this approach. The advantages of PBL are many because it is a great and fun way for students to learn by creating something. The disadvantage of PBL might be that students take advantage of that and might not put the best effort in making the most out of classroom time. To get a great outcome of PBL, a teacher needs to have structure in their classroom and making sure students learn from PBL instead of just getting a free period out of it.
I found a great website online that has all kinds of PBL projects in different grades and subjects. Pick a project is the place to go when you need ideas on what projects to use in classroom. An example I found of PBL in a classroom would be the Domino Effect example. In this project, students will find out how much Domino’s is really charging for their pizza and explore this further in three project tasks, Chain Gang, Cover me and Top it like it’s hot. Students use linear equations to find the base price (y-intercept) and cost per additional topping (slope) to find out how much Domino’s is really charging for pizza. Students can choose between those three topics to explore further in the project. In one task, students research another pizza restaurant’s pricing scheme and mathematically compare it to Domino’s. In another they use percent change to compare the increase in price between Domino’s pizza sizes to the increase in toppings. In still one more task, they investigate why Domino’s pricing scheme is so weird. How many toppings do most people order, anyway? This project is a great one because who doesn’t like Pizza and want to know how much and what they’re spending on? I can also see a pizza party along with this project on finding out how much Domino charge for their pizzas.
I’ve already shared a couple of great articles on explaining this approach but the following video is also one to watch and learn about PBL.
Three expert teachers I found to follow on twitter are:
John Larmer – https://twitter.com/johnlBIE
Bob Lenz – https://twitter.com/pblbob
Liam Bayer – https://twitter.com/liamBIE
One teacher blog I found on this approach is:
Travis Phelps – https://tphelps1980.wordpress.com/
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