Project-based learning (PBL) is a teaching approach in which students explore challenges. After an extended period of “learning by doing” students are to deliver a project (“Project-based learning”, 2021). This may be in the form of, for example, a presentation or product. Upon inquiring about PBL a few strengths stood out to me (Buck Institute for Education, n.d.).
First, a key strength of PBL is in the way it readies students for the world outside the classroom. Students, by engaging with challenges and building a project gain life-long assets. They practice and grow their drive, passion, creativity, empathy, and resilience. All actionable and further practiced after the project has closed. These assets contribute to one feeling positive towards learning. Also lending to developing healthy work habits (“Project-based learning”, 2021). Second, students gain a deep understanding of the curriculum (“Project-based learning”, 2021). As they are engaging with a problem over a longer period of time the result is a more thorough understanding. To develop a project the student must pick up knowledge, think critically about it, communicate it to other team members, and transform it. All processes will help the knowledge sink in. Third, students learn problem-solving including the practice of drawing on prior knowledge. As a team tries to transform the questions posed to them it will likely be necessary to get creative and draw on prior knowledge. Prior knowledge could provide a template for or inspire improvements. For instance, if the project is to make a home more sustainable one may think to use a line chart. One may have learned elsewhere that line charts are a good way to visualize changes over time and decide to use one to visualize water usage over time. In this way, prior knowledge is being re-registered and also deepened by this learning method.
Reflecting on post 1 and the above inquiry results, this teaching approach is constructivist. As stated, there is a focus on students, this is also a core component of constructivism. As in constructivism students are responsible for their learning (“Project-based learning”, 2021). Also reflecting on post 1, PBL being constructivist implies that this learning method sits in the middle of a learning continuum. As such it may be recommended that teachers use PBL to deepen students’ understanding.
References
Buck Institute for Education. (n.d.). What is PBL?. In pblworks. Retrieved from https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl
Project-based learning (2021). In en.wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project-based_learning