Project method, Steps involved in project method, Criteria of a good project, Role of teacher in project method, Merits of project method, Demerits of project method

1. Project Method
By
Dr. I. Uma Maheswari
iuma_maheswari@yahoo.co.in

2. Project Method
• The Project method is based on the
philosophy of pragmatism and the
principle of ‘Learning by doing’.
• It is a pupil centered approach of
teaching method.
• It was introduced by J.A. Stevenson in
the year 1908 at agricultural school of
Massachussetts.

3. • He defines “Project as a problematic
act carried to completion in its natural
setting”.
• Dr. Kilpatric defines the project “as a
whole-hearted purposeful activity
proceeding in a social environment”.
• Ballard defines as “A project is a bit of
real life that has been imparted into
school”.

4. • “Learning by doing” and “Learning by
Living” are the two cardinal principles
of this method.
• Children learn through association,
activity and co-operation.
• The essence of this method is that the
students work out the solutions to the
problems co-operatively in the form of
an activity knowing is gaining by
doing things.

5. • When students undertake the project
independently it is called individual
project.
• By analyzing these definitions we see
that a project has some purpose and
there is planning to achieve that
purpose which is achieved in social,
real and natural situations created in
the schools.

6. • Steps involved in project method:
• A good project ought to have the
following steps:
1.Providing a situation.
2.Purposing.
3.Planning.
4.Execution.
5.Recording and
6.Evaluating.

7. 1. Providing a situation:
• The teacher should provide such situation
to the students which may create some
problems for them and in which they feel
interested to work.
• For eg. When the teacher takes his
students to a highly industrialized city, he
provides a situation for the students to be
aware of pollution.

8. 2. Purposing:
• The teacher should create situations fully of
scientific enquiry so that the students may be
tempted to pick up and solve the problems.
• But these problems should be related to the
subject matter and content of the particular
class.
• It should be suited to their interests and should
also be in time with that of pupils.
• The teacher should have a note on the duration
of the project.

9. Criteria of a good project:
a) A project should have a definite
educational value.
b) The educational significance should
be related to the needs of the pupils.
c) It should be adopted to children’s
need and suited to their age and
intellectual background and to the
availability of materials.

10. d) The time spent in completing the
project must be proportional to the
values derived.
e) It should be capable of being
completed with a reasonable amount of
time.
It should be challenging. It should be
neither too simple nor to complex.

11. 1. Planning:
• It is very important for the success of
the project. The students should plan
out whole scheme under the guidance
of the teacher.
• The materials for carrying out the
project can be collected and kept.
• The discussion should clearly bring
out the plan of action of the project.

12. • How many groups should be there?
• For each group how many pupils may
be necessary?
• What is the work allotted to the
individual? These aspects should be
decided.

13. 2. Execution:
• It is the stage where the project is worked
out.
• Each group with the leader is responsible for
the completion of a particular activity
assigned to it.
• The teacher should always remain in the
background and should guide and encourage
the activity.
• The work should proceed according to the
right lines. Field work, collection of data,
discussion are all executed here.

14. 3. Recording:
• As soon as the project is over, the pupils
should write down the different aspects of
the project.
• Each of them, should write down what work
is assigned to them, how they had carried it
out, what difficulties they faced, how they
had overcome, etc.
• This will enable them to carry out another
project in future.

15. 4. Evaluation:
• After the completion of the project activity,
the students review the project and find out
the mistakes if any.
• Self-criticism is an important training.
• The teacher should see that the important
objectives have been realized.

16. Role of the teacher:
• In the selection of the project, the
teacher should have a complete idea
regarding the standard, average
intelligence, maturity, age and
previous knowledge of the students
from the point of its feasibility.
• The teacher should be fully
democratic and should give them
training in scientific method.

17. • He should see that the project is
economical both from the point of view
of money and time.
• The teacher should act as a guide and
a friend of the pupils.
• Sufficient opportunity for participation
should be given to all pupils.
• Shy students should be encouraged.

18. Merits of Project Method:
1. This method is based upon laws of
learning i.e.,
a) Law of readiness
The pupils are made ready to learn by
creating interest and purpose.
b) Law of Exercise
By practicing we learn things. There
is self activity on the part of the pupils
in the project work.

19. c) Law of effect
• The sense of success and satisfaction
should accompany the learning
process.
• This law makes it essential for the
teacher to make the child satisfied
and feel happy in what he is learning.
This is fulfilled in project work.

20. 2. This method works on two important
principles of learning “Learning by
doing” and “Learning through play-
way”.
3. It promotes co-operative activity and
group-interaction. As a result, habit
of thinking for a common cause,
tolerance, self-dependence,
resourcefulness and other socially
desirable habits are formed.

21. 4. It is a democratic way of learning.
The children choose, plan and execute
the project themselves under the
guidance of the teacher.
5. Individual differences are taken into
account. The children choose, and
select work on their own interest,
attitude, aptitude, etc.

22. 6. When pupils undertake a “project
they learn to use reference materials
and develop reading and writing
habits. It also makes them self-
disciplined.
7. If develops self-confidence in the
pupils.

23. Demerits:
1. It is very expensive and time
consuming.
2. All the topics in the syllabus cannot be
undertaken as project.
3. It presumes that the teacher has an all
round knowledge of the students.
4. It gives to the pupils a superficial
knowledge of great many things but
not proper groundwork of the subject.

24. 5. Text-books and materials written on
these lines are not available.
6. There is no provision for drill and
practice for skills required in
Arithmetic, and spelling in science.
7. There is no proper development of the
subject.
8. The teaching is disorganized,
irregular and discontinuous.

25. Suggestions:
• In spite of these difficulties, science
teachers can undertake a few projects
every year under science club
activities.
• The science club of the school can
undertake different types of projects
like collection projects, excursion
projects, individual projects, etc.