PBL Unit Two
Why is Project Based Learning beneficial to use in the classroom?
Objective
- Develop a logical argument on the benefits of PBL in the classroom.
The purpose is to help students develop knowledge-base skills for life. These are skills that the students can take with them outside of the classroom. This learning does not promote reciting facts necessary to pass a test. Instead, this learning allows for fundamental skills and 21st century skills to be put to use and fine-tuned. Students will be solving highly complex problems. Students become in charge of their learning with the help and guidance of the teacher.
21st Century Skills
- Personal and social awareness
- Planning
- Critical thinking
- Reasoning
- Creativity
- Communication
- Understanding of culture
- Decision making
- Integrating technology
Think about it. . .
Think about the skills that students will develop from PBL.
Please use the discussion tab at the top of the page to write a brief paragraph explaining the following. . .
1) Which two do you believe to be most important and useful for a student to learn? 2) Why do you think this? Explain your reasoning? 3) Where will students put these two skills in use in their life?
Authentic Assessments
Authentic assessments help teachers document progress and development in students. Some benefits of these assessments are:
- Multiple opportunities for assessment
- Allows children to demonstrate individual work
- Students can apply certain skills
- Develops collaborations and communication skills
- The teacher can have a greater understanding and background of the child
- The teacher can communicate with individual students or the whole group in a variety of ways
Lifelong Learning
Project based learning promotes lifelong learning.
"Teaching has been an activity undertaken behind closed doors between moderately consenting participants."-- Lee Shulman
- PBL helps the students and teachers reach and learn outside of the classroom.
- Students become engaged and active with their own learning.
- Students learn to take control of their own learning.
Discuss
In the discussion tab at the top of the page, please discuss the following,
- Why do you think it is important for students to make these connections between the classroom and life?
- Have you ever used PBL in your classroom, even if you did not realize you were?
What's Next?
Now that you have a pretty decent background on PBL, we are going to move forward to implementation in the classroom. Before we move to the next unit, look back at the list of ideas you have brainstormed in unit one. Choose one idea that you will want to create a lesson around in unit three. Once you have done this, feel free to move to PBL Unit Three.
References and further resources
[Project Based Learning Article]