What Teachers and Students can Learn from Project Based Learning.

Project Based Learning (PBL) differs from typical methods of teaching in that it allows students and teachers to interact with each other as a team, instead of simply being “led” in their education. Teaching is more than simply reciting a text book or showings slides on a presentation, and PBL helps to reinforce this understanding. Not only do projects help students become more involved in their own learning process, they also help to reinforce strengths such as critical thinking, and a sense of accomplishment in their own work. Reading a book and then taking a test is a very straightforward approach, but it can also be highly mechanical. Education has a serious side which includes deadlines, mandatory reading, and testing, however this should not overwhelm the potentially enjoyable (and even fun!) aspects that help to keep students involved and motivated.

Teachers, for instance, can learn:

•         How their students feel about different topics of discussion.
•         If their students are truly learning the material presented to them.
•       Individually how their students think.
•         Which students work well together and which do not!

Students can learn:

•         How to engage themselves with projects.
•       How to present their idea.
•         Collaboration with others.
•         How to go in-depth with a project.
•         How to ask the right questions.
•         How to improve social skills.
•         How to think critically.
•         How to reflect on their work.

As students and teachers work together to complete projects and learn about each covered subject, teachers can then take the lessons learned from each class, and apply it to new classes. Another useful aspect of PBL is that when students complete projects, their work and research can be critiqued and improved as part of a process, instead of simply receiving a “correct/incorrect” response from a teacher after submitting a test. Since teachers will have to evaluate projects more closely, it will help them to stay involved in the teaching process.

Project Based Learning isn’t necessarily the perfect solution to every student’s needs, however I think that it is something that should be strongly considered when developing lesson plans.