Project Based Learning
Since starting my position at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School, I have been plunged into a world of Project Based Learning (PBL).
The majority of my learning in this area has been practical, as I have been teaching PBL for most of the term thus far. To guide me through this I have been fortunate enough to have four amazing teachers in my hub to support me. I have also been reading resources provided to me and researching independently. Overall I have gained a sound understanding of what PBL is, why we teach it and how we as teachers can engage students in PBL. In this post I will briefly explain these areas as well as share some insight into what teaching we have been doing in the Kakano hub regarding PBL as well as some of my own thoughts on this approach.
What is Project Based Learning?
PBL begins with a real world problem or question. This question/problem needs to be open ended and spark the interest of students.
Over an extended period of time, students are guided to construct their own knowledge and demonstrate this through creating and showcasing a product.
PBL differs from just 'creating a project' where the teacher delivers the teaching and students create a project at the end to display the facts they have learnt. In PBL the project is what frames the learning and the driving question is central to all learning.
Why do we teach Project Based Learning?
PBL is based on the premise that learners learn through doing. PBL aims to be authentic and engaging and works to develop independent learners with transferrable skills. This way of teaching facilitates students to create their own knowledge rather than reproduce facts. The knowledge and skills students develop should be based on real world scenarios.
How should we teach Project Based Learning?
Teachers need to bring the learning alive for students, relate it to the real world, give it a purpose and encourage and facilitate students to guide their own learning. Teachers should know students and their passions and interests and incorporate this into the learning to engage the learners. They should connect the driving question and the learning to real world contexts and people to give the learning a real purpose. Lastly they should model excitement and enthusiasm for the topic.
My experience with PBL
In the Kakano Hub we are focusing on the driving question: Why is Antarctica important to us? This question is rather broad because we wanted to allow room for the learners to take us in different directions. We have been attentive to student interests and allowed students choice in their learning. Students have chosen a specific area of Antarctica they want to focus on and from this we have broken into groups to learn and create around this area.
I am working with a group who are focusing on Antarctic Explorers and why these past and present explorers are important to us. We are developing a book with samples of various types of work across the curriculum to display our learning around Explorers and the driving question. We have had various guest speakers come into the hub, we have integrated the topic across other curriculum areas and are going to the Antarctic Centre soon to bring the learning to life even more.
I am enjoying teaching PBL and am constantly looking for ways to make the learning more exciting and engaging. It is very rewarding to see the students discussing their learning and researching into the topic more in their own time. One of my students saw a Robert Scott statue (an explorer we have been looking into) in town. She got a photo with the statue and shared this with the whole hub for news, this was awesome to see.
I believe PBL is beneficial as it teaches transferrable skills and develops independent learners. I also believe this approach is beneficial particularly for boys as they often tend to learn better through hands on activities and through doing.
I am only new to this way of teaching but so far I am enjoying teaching and learning it. I am excited to see where the learning will take the students and the outcome that they will produce.
Have you had any experience with facilitating Project Based Learning? What are your thoughts? Feel free to let me know.
Ngā mihi nui
Marielle :)
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