Project Based Learning

Project Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching method that allows students to gain knowledge by requiring them to work for an extended period of time to investigate a complex problem or question.

PBL encourages formative and authentic assessment by doing the following:

• It allows students to demonstrate their capabilities while working independently.
• It shows the student’s ability to apply skills such as doing research.
• PBL encourages students to be more engaged and to learn actively.
• PBL builds skills for college, career and life.
• PBL encourages imagination and creativity.
• PBL promotes lifelong learning.

Other Benefits include:

1. Engagement:
Students are more likely to be engaged in their schooling when they feel autonomy over their own learning. Project based learning allows students to be drivers of their own learning.

2.  Differentiation:
Students with various learning styles and differences are accommodated since PBL showcases a broad range of capabilities.

3.  Accountability:
Students take greater responsibility for their own learning.

4.  21st Century Thinking Skills:
Use of technology, collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking are all 21st century skills that are developed in PBL.

5.  In depth inquiry and innovation:
Students spend most of their time working on this stage. This is where they will be finding answers to the many questions that will evolve as they conduct their research. They will be using websites, books, articles, and videos to dive deep into the subject they’re exploring. All this gathered information will be used to create their product.

6.  Reflection and revision:
At this stage, students will use rubrics, exemplars and self-editing. It’s an ongoing process that is a great way to self-reflect on the process and drives students to continue improving.