Working Definition: Teacher-facilitated project-based learning is collaborative, student-driven learning with a goal of deepening student understanding, critical thinking, and real world application.
Should education be about building content masters or masters of learning?
The answer to the above question could be tricky if you put it in the context of what would be best for your child and their future. When we think of what school was/is for many, myself included, content was master. Education is changing.
To begin the Project-Based Learning (PBL) process students are presented a question(s) that is not something that can be Googled to find a copy and paste answer. The standards that are needing to be taught are embedded into the questions that are being presented. The research then is rigorous and the students will need to be creative problem-solvers in the way they go about answering the questions. This is a process and not something that happens overnight. The students will then have time to develop their idea based on their learning and understanding of the questions. The work is relevant to the student and the urgency of the learning will be established when identifying the authentic audience to present this information to.
The 21st century student needs skills that are transferable from place to place. Critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and being able to communicate ideas are skills that need to be developed to handle any scenario that presents itself at any moment. With Project-Based Learning students have the opportunity to develop a way of answering a question in a way that they are passionate about. When the learning is relevant to the learner there is no limit to the amount of time that person will want to work on their idea.
Presenting an PBL opportunity is very different from traditional school. A textbook is a resource but not the only one. Their may not be a time to sit and read something as a class if it would benefit some and not others. The students are not sitting in rows for hours at a time only listening and answering questions. Student needs are very different. Some students come in with prior knowledge and do not need instruction in one area but have a high need in another area. Relevancy of learning is prioritized. Students will identify what they know and do not know and spend their time where they need to to be successful.
Most people do not have a time where they cannot answer a question because it is there "Social Studies time" or when presented with numbers and a math concept, having to wait until 1:30 to get into their "Math time." With authentic learning experiences the learning is happening when the student needs it. Throughout this student driven process when a need develops for new knowledge the student should feel empowered to get that new information. Identifying resources and developing research skills the students are the masters of their learning and need to demonstrate their new learning to have the best possible product in the end.
My goal is to create masters of learning through the understanding that learning is a process that takes time and includes many levels of thinking.
Websites For Further Reading
Buck Institute for Education
Should education be about building content masters or masters of learning?
The answer to the above question could be tricky if you put it in the context of what would be best for your child and their future. When we think of what school was/is for many, myself included, content was master. Education is changing.
To begin the Project-Based Learning (PBL) process students are presented a question(s) that is not something that can be Googled to find a copy and paste answer. The standards that are needing to be taught are embedded into the questions that are being presented. The research then is rigorous and the students will need to be creative problem-solvers in the way they go about answering the questions. This is a process and not something that happens overnight. The students will then have time to develop their idea based on their learning and understanding of the questions. The work is relevant to the student and the urgency of the learning will be established when identifying the authentic audience to present this information to.
The 21st century student needs skills that are transferable from place to place. Critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and being able to communicate ideas are skills that need to be developed to handle any scenario that presents itself at any moment. With Project-Based Learning students have the opportunity to develop a way of answering a question in a way that they are passionate about. When the learning is relevant to the learner there is no limit to the amount of time that person will want to work on their idea.
Presenting an PBL opportunity is very different from traditional school. A textbook is a resource but not the only one. Their may not be a time to sit and read something as a class if it would benefit some and not others. The students are not sitting in rows for hours at a time only listening and answering questions. Student needs are very different. Some students come in with prior knowledge and do not need instruction in one area but have a high need in another area. Relevancy of learning is prioritized. Students will identify what they know and do not know and spend their time where they need to to be successful.
Most people do not have a time where they cannot answer a question because it is there "Social Studies time" or when presented with numbers and a math concept, having to wait until 1:30 to get into their "Math time." With authentic learning experiences the learning is happening when the student needs it. Throughout this student driven process when a need develops for new knowledge the student should feel empowered to get that new information. Identifying resources and developing research skills the students are the masters of their learning and need to demonstrate their new learning to have the best possible product in the end.
My goal is to create masters of learning through the understanding that learning is a process that takes time and includes many levels of thinking.
Websites For Further Reading
Buck Institute for Education