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