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byElizabeth Preston
5 min to readThere are multiple ways to engage students in their learning processes and encourage them to partake in active learning. A project-based learning method is one of these ways, and it can be great for having students work on projects that matter to them and to engage students with their online schooling.
Read on to learn what project-based learning is, some of the benefits of project-based learning for kids, and some project-based learning ideas for students of different grade levels.
Project-based learning (PBL) is hands-on and is a type of inquiry-based learning. As the PBLworks website states, PBL is “a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge.”
With PBL, students work on a project for an extended time (such as over a full semester), and during this process, they identify a problem, create a solution, build a prototype of their solution, and then refine their solution based on research, collaboration with classmates, and guidance from teachers and experts in the field. Ideally, students’ solutions are available to the public, such as through presenting their findings at a community event.
However, PBL is different from having students complete a project at the end of a learning unit. An ending project gives a student a chance to demonstrate that they have mastered the skills that a teacher has taught them. In this way, the project acts as a learning check. Instead, with PBL, the project is the learning unit itself. Teachers, parents, and Learning Coaches provide guidance and resources as students work on their PBL projects, but the focus of the learning is on students’ interactions with their projects.
Students can work on their PBL ideas individually, but working in groups may further help students learn how to collaborate and communicate with others.
There are several benefits of project-based learning, which include:
For example, if a student is passionate about the environment, then they may choose to investigate the problem of water use in areas prone to drought. By making the projects connected to a student’s passions and to real-life problems, the projects will likely feel more meaningful to students, which will help them to stay motivated to complete it.
Since students may feel motivated to work on a project that matters to them, then they may be inclined to take more ownership over their project and learning process. This means that they may independently strive to explore and understand concepts connected to their project, which can be particularly helpful for reluctant learners.
Active learning is when students interact with concepts in a hands-on way. Rather than being told about an idea and being expected to absorb and regurgitate information, the student interacts with the idea themselves so that they experience it firsthand. Active learning can lead to students developing a deeper engagement with, and understanding of, concepts than if they learn about it in a passive learning method, such as listening to a lecture or watching a documentary.
The 4Cs of education refer to essential skills that students need to be well-rounded individuals and be successful in the workplace. These skills include communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, and PBL allows students to practice these skills.
PBL ideas and projects have seven essential design elements:
These design elements should be included in whatever PBL project students choose to pursue. Although PBL projects are largely student-led (meaning that the student chooses the topic and problem they want to tackle), they may need some ideas to get them started. You can begin with your student’s passions and brainstorm together for ideas, but here are some project-based learning ideas to help.
At the heart of PBL ideas are students learning through doing. By tackling a real-world problem and working with that problem for an extended period of time, students can use their critical thinking and creativity to generate feasible solutions.
Also, since PBL encourages students to work with others and express their solutions to the public, PBL projects enable students to practice their collaboration and communication skills. Overall, PBL is a great way engage students through active learning, encourage them to feel excited about learning, and see that their learning and work truly do matter in the world.
*AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board. Used with permission.
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