1. As a result of using the project-based learning approach students are able to learn, research and explore in more areas than just the classroom during school hours. Project-based learning allows students to learn anytime and anywhere with the use to handheld technology. Deeper learning is also an outcome of project-based learning. Students are exploring raw information that they are encouraged to make sense of by themselves and with other classmates. The more information the students gather, the more tools they use to help sort the information, such as using a spreadsheet to collect and organize data. Most importantly, using the project-based learning approach allows collaboration. Tools such as Google Docs, podcasts and survey tools help students collaborate and learn together.
2. Its important to bring your project home and not have it lead to a dead end. Good projects should open new doors and create connections that can be turned into future project ideas. Student reflection is one of the best ways to bring the project home. This gives you an insight into how the students learned and what worked best during the project. You can even ask your students what could be done to make the project even better, you'll be surprised with all the great input you get.
3. In a way we are working on bringing our project home by putting together a collaborative concept map and a project website. Also, we have used a lot of the tools mentioned in the appendix and it was great to learn how that really helps the students come together and learn as one. I love how this chapter makes you realize how important it is to bring the project home and reflect on what you and the students have learned from the project as a whole.
I really like the "what could be done to make the project better" question. Sometimes we think we know all the answers and sometimes we may feel like something is a lost cause. Good for us, though, that our students can often come up with great ideas that we may have never considered or thought of on our own. Also, its much more effective to have students self-correct rather than having an over-bearing adult tell them what to fix and to do so.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is very important to not just have the project end up a "dead end"; "bringing it home" is a vital part to the PBL-based teaching method. Successful projects should lead to more ideas or a build onto the used idea. For example, the teacher mentioned in the book who has used blogging for several years saw the projects as connecting to and building on top of one another. I agree that student reflection is a great way to bring the project home, as it gives valuable feedback to what worked, what didn't work, and what could work.
ReplyDeleteChelsea, you did a great job of highlighting the important technology that project based learning introduces to students.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the importance of not letting a project coming to a dead end. A good project should create more opportunities and ideas. I like that you included reflection too and how important it is. Getting students' input of the project is also a great idea for future planning.
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