2. Project-Based Learning versus Teacher- Centered Instruction What is Project-Based Learning? What does PBL look like? What is being said about Project-Based Learning? Research on Project-Based Learning. How does it compare to teacher-centered instruction?
3. What is Project-Based Learning? Project-Based Learning (PBL) is a learning by doing approach to education. 2 “rigorous projects are carefully planned, managed, and assessed to help students learn key academic content, practice 21st Century Skills (such as collaboration, communication & critical thinking), and create high-quality, authentic products & presentations.”1
4. What does PBL look like? “Project Based Learning is generally done by groups of students working together toward a common goal. Performance is assessed on an individual basis, and takes into account the quality of the product produced, the depth of content understanding demonstrated, and the contributions made to the ongoing process of project realization.” 3
6. What is being said about PBL? http://www.bie.org/tools/video/it_really_actually_changed_my_life In this video clip, students reflect on their experiences with PBL and how it effected them. 4
7. Research on Project-Based Learning “A three-year 1997 study of two British secondary schools -- one that used open-ended projects and one that used more traditional, direct instruction -- found striking differences in understanding and standardized achievement data in mathematics. The study by Jo Boaler, found that students at the project-based school did better than those at the more traditional school both on math problems requiring analytical or conceptual thought and on those considered rote. Three times as many students at the project-based school received the top grade achievable on the national examination in math.” 5
8. How does it compare to teacher-centered instruction? Project-Based Learning Teacher-Centered Instruction students explore real-world problems and challenges students are evaluated on the basis of their projects work within their community while seeing the positive effect of their work 6 actively involves students in the learning of organized bodies of knowledge interactive questioning that encourages students to make connections between important facts, concepts, and generalizations 7
9. Conclusion Project-Based Learning is an instructional approach that is designed to actively engage students in the learning process while seeing the effects of their research. Compared with teacher-centered instruction, which is centered around the teacher leading the instruction and discussion, PBL lets students be in charge of their own learning, but still allowing the teacher to be the facilitator.
10. Citations 1 Buck institute for education. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.bie.org/about/what_is_pbl/ 2 Research spotlight on project-based learning. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/tools/16963.htm 3Buck Institute for Education, Initials. (2010). Project based learning. Retrieved from http://pbl-online.org/default.htm 4 Buck Institute for Education, . (n.d.). It really Actually changed my life. Retrieved from http://www.bie.org/tools/video/it_really_actually_changed_my_life 5Edutopia Staff, . (2001, November 1). Pbl research summary: studies validate project-based learning. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-research 6Edutopia Staff, . (2002, February 28). Why Teach with project learning?: providing students with a well-rounded classroom experience. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning-introduction 7Pearson Education, . (1995-2010). Teacher-centered instruction. Retrieved from http://wps.ablongman.com/ab_kauchak_learnteach_4/3/785/201031
11. More Information on Project-Based Learning Buck Institute for Education http://www.bie.org/ Edutopia http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning Project Based Learning http://pbl-online.org/default.htm
