Project Based Learning

By. Meredith Biesinger

It’s the holiday season. You’ve just returned from Thanksgiving break, and you are likely three weeks away from Winter Break. You know this, your students know this, everyone knows this. However, we all know that these three weeks still count.

How do you continue to teach effectively during this challenging time of the school year?

Consider Project-Based Learning.

Project-Based Learning (PBL) engages students in their own learning experiences, and what could be better than that?

Students are required to have a varied skill set in today’s world. Solving highly complex problems requires fundamental skills (reading, writing, and math) and 21st century skills (teamwork, problem-solving, research gathering, time management, evaluating information, and utilizing high-tech tools).

With this combination of skills, students have the opportunity to direct their learning process while guided and mentored by a skilled teacher… that’s you!

Project-Based Learning has many merits, including:

Personal and social responsibility

Planning, critical thinking, reasoning, and creativity

Strong communication skills

Cross-cultural understanding

Visualizing and decision making

Knowing how and when to use technology and choosing the most appropriate tool for the task

A PBL lesson plan is pretty simple to execute. Try these steps:

1. Start with the main question.

2.Design a plan for the project

3. Create a schedule.

4. Monitor your students and the progress of the project

5. Assess the outcome

6. Evaluate the experience

Project-Based Learning can be done at any grade level and for any subject. Look around your classroom, gather up supplies you already have, and create a PBL unit that fits your curriculum. Experiences like these are memorable, and they will give your students something to look forward to and engage in as they continue to get antsy for the upcoming holiday break.