Ontario Oakville.ca

Introducing Project Based Learning in Schools and Home School Settings

The use of project based learning is not necessarily a new concept. Though teachers do conduct the majority of their lessons in a classroom setting where they dictate from the front of the room while their students sit in rows of desks listening attentively, there are still elements of project or problem based learning in schools. When a teacher organizes a field trip to a farm or the museum, such settings engage a project based learning element. Interacting with others and the world around them allows students to participate in PBL style learning that will give them new learning tools they will have for life.

What Are the Characteristics of Project Based Learning?

On a very basic level, PBL settings involve students tackling a project and collaboratively solving the problem at hand. With the use of PBL, students:

• Are presented with a challenge that they must solve;
• Gather with other peers to collectively take on the problem;
• Make their decisions on how to solve the problem through a specified framework;
• Take a keen interest in their project;
• Are free to solve their problem through trial and error;
• Will plan and set out their own research, development and summaries
• Will present their project with their team.

This type of atmosphere presents a much more student-centred atmosphere with the teacher taking on more of a facilitator role than that of a dictator of information.

Why Are Problem Based Learning Settings so Powerful?

Many schools, educators and communities are now realizing the powerful effect that problem based learning projects has on their students, and even on their teachers. By allowing students to participate in projects that peak their interest and give them a certain amount of power over how the problem will be attacked and solved, students develop a renewed interest in learning. This translates into better engagement, more information that is retained over the long run, and better grades.

Accessing PBL Units

For educators and schools that are interested in making PBL a much greater part of the classroom, there are resources available to do just that. PBLSuperstore.com has a huge library of PBL units that are ready to be downloaded right away and utilized immediately in the classroom.  Many teachers find the task of developing PBL projects daunting.  These complete, tried and tested units were developed for students grades K-10 in the North American curriculum.  Best of all, they are backed with full support and contain rubrics for grading.  Visit www.PBLSuperstore.com today and find everything you need to start a PBL lesson right away!