Video Resources for Teachers

 

 

This inspirational video clip, "inquiry and problem based learning" is to help teachers break away from traditional methods and move towards creating a project- based learning environment.

 

 

 

View the clip "Students Get Involved in Current Events through Project-based Learning." This clip provides a visual for one classroom implementing project-based learning into their classroom.  Parents and teachers from East Oakland school work together to help make a difference in learning.

 

 

This video clip, "Picturing the Possibilities- Project-based learning" takes one teacher's classroom and outlines the steps on where to begin and how to manage projects.

Tips for Implementing PBL

For some teachers, giving up control of instructing students is a hard concept to swallow when moving into a project- based learning environment.  The benefits for allowing students to use their curiosity to investigate problems is endless.  It is important to allow students to use and develop critical thinking skills, collaboration skills, decision making, and problem solving skills in order to be success in 21st century learning and career environments.

Edutopia (2013) has created an outline for helping teachers implement project- based learning projects into their classrooms.

• Start with an essential questions- this questions should be open-ended and one can investigate the problem.
• Design a plan for the project- provide students with a list of resources and materials that are available to them as they carry out their research.
• Create a schedule- help students learn time management skills by provided an allotted time for the project and itself steps.
• Monitor students and the progress of the project- be a facilitator, allow students to make decisions, but offer assistance to guide if students are frustrated or stuck.
• Access the outcome- provide specific feedback, align with standards, use feedback to guide further learning.
• Evaluate the process- reflect on the process and adjust changes when necessary to provide authentic learning experiences.

Edutopia. (2013). How does project-based learning work?. Common Core Resources. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-guide-implementation

Overview of Project-Based Learning

Project-based learning (PBL) is a hands-on experience to a 21st century approach to learning.  Students are actively involved in solving real-world issues while collaboratively working with others.  Project-based learning encourages students to use critical thinking and decision making skills to solve problems with the teacher as a facilitator (Edutopia, 2013). Students conduct in-depth research to answer questions to real-world issues. 

History of PBL
Project-based learning was first introduced as an innovative medical education curriculum (Barrows, 1996). Over the decades, PBL has been adopted as an approach to uncover solutions in fields of medicine, engineering, business, forestry, and education.  Collaborate teams work together to inquire about complex challenges to improve the processes of every day life. In education, PBL has created a problem-anchored learning environment to take up a natural process of inquiry (Camp, 1997).

Key Concepts
In education, class activities are created around a problem or problems.  The teacher takes a "back-seat" to allow students to their natural curiosity to investigate problems.  The teacher will guide and support students' initiatives, while the students are self-directed in solving problems (Barrows, 1996).  Howard Barrows (1996) lists the six original characteristics for problem-based learning:

1) Learning is student centered.
2) Learning occurs in small student groups.
3) Teachers are facilitators or guides.
4) Problems form the original focus and stimulus for learning.
5) Problems are a vehicle for the development of clinical problem solving skills.
6) New information is acquired through self-directed learning.

Benefits of PBL
Project- based learning offers a modern, student- centered approach to teaching and learning.  PBL offers a lot of valuable benefits in the education world in contrast with traditional, direct instructional approaches.  As outlined from Edutopia (2013), here are a few of the major advantages for using PBL in classrooms:

• PBL makes school more like real life
• Helps students develop skills for living in a knowledge- based highly technological society
• PBL and technology use bring a new valence to learning at hand.
• Lends itself to authentic assessment
• Promotes lifelong learning
• Accommodates students with varying learning needs and difference

References
Barrows, H.S. (1996). Problem-based learning in medicine and beyond: a brief overview. Wiley Online Library. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/tl.37219966804/pdf

Camp, G. (1996). Problem-based learning: a paradigm shift or a passing fad?. Retrieved from http://www.utmb.edu/meo/f0000003.htm

Edutopia. (2013). Project-based learning. Common core resources. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning

Edutopia. (2013). Why is project based learning important?. Common core resources. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-guide-importance