Blog Post #9

What Can Teachers and Students Teach Us About Project Based Learning?


When you first begin to explore Project Based Learning it can be a bit overwhelming especially if this is new concept for you. If you question whether this is an effective way to teach then looking at those who use it is a great way to make that determination. Consulting the feedback from teachers and students who use project based learning is an excellent way to get a better understanding of how project based learning is used and accepted.

While reading the article Seven Essentials for Project-Based Learning, several things stood out:

• "A project is meaningful if it fulfills two criteria. First, students must perceive the work as personally meaningful, as a task that matters and that they want to do well. Second, a meaningful project fulfills an educational purpose. Well-designed and well-implemented project-based learning is meaningful in both ways."
• "Many students find schoolwork meaningless because they don't perceive a need to know what they're being taught. They are unmotivated by a teacher's suggestion that they should learn something because they'll need it later in life, for the next course, or simply because "it's going to be on the test." With a compelling student project, the reason for learning relevant material becomes clear: I need to know this to meet the challenge I've accepted.(Seven Essentials for Project-Based Learning,)

If someone feels as though the work they are doing is meaningless then they will not do their best. However, when students can see that there is meaning and importance behind their work they will produce some amazing results. In the video PBL: What motivates students today students where asked "What motivates you to do good in school?". The majority of students said they are motivated by the recognition of their success and to achieve future career goals. Project Based Learning gives them both. They are able to show off their product as well as learn skills that they can use throughout their life. The video Project-Based Learning for Teachers gives some examples of skills students learn through PBL that they can utilize in their careers; skills such as communication skills, critical thinking skills, and career and life skills. Most teachers understand that those skills are what students need to be successful in their future and that's why they turn to PBL. 

Another thing we can learn from students who use PBL is that they value and desire their independence. Students who were interviewed in the video Project Based Learning: The Students' Experience all agreed that independence is the number one perk to PBL. Think about it. Would we rather the next generation never question things, never solve problems, and do exactly what they are told or do we want the next generation to solve the big world issues, make new discoveries, and take ownership of their lives?

Why Project-Based Learning?