During this semester I have come to find out that many of the professors here love to use project based learning. I have heard about project based learning in my past semesters but never really knew the real definition. Project Based Learning is an instructional approach built upon authentic learning activities that engage student interest and motivation. These activities are designed to answer a question or solve a problem and generally reflect the types of learning and work people do in the everyday world outside the classroom. As I start my journey through project based learning I need to keep in mind that I want to learn as much as possible.
There are many benefits to project based learning for students and teachers. Overall the benefits are for the students. When using project based learning in the classroom you will find that students want to come to class and learn. The students are coming to school knowing that they will not sit at a desk all day and not interact. Opportunities to develop complex skills, such as problem-solving, collaborating, and communicating are just a few of the skills that students will learn while working in a project based classroom.
With all of the benefits there also comes issues with the project based learning approach. When I start teaching, it will be my administrations decision whether or not to use PBL in my classroom and throughout the school. When I become a teacher I will realize that there are just not enough hours in the day. PBL can be as short as overnight or as long and several weeks in duration. PBL units flourish in a block schedule routine. Be aware of the amount of time a project takes when examining the PBL. You will also have to be prepared to explain your decision to use PBL to the parents of the students involved. Notify and explain to the concerned parents that may have questions about their child's learning. Updates, newsletters, FAQ sheets are among many ways to keep parents informed of their students' involvement with this learning process. Their is always going to be people that disagree with what PBL is all about. You just have to make sure you have the right research and examples to back up your arrangement's.
I feel that I am going to learn a lot this semester about PBL. I am excited to try and make our own projects in our own classrooms. I think that once I learn more about PBL, I will be able to make the decision to one day teacher this approach in my classroom or not with the support of my administration and the parents of my students.
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