Blog Post 9

Project Based Learning

Project based learning is an awesome tool to use in the classroom! This can be done in groups or individually. Students are required to create to learn, instead of just take a test on information they have been taught. Essentials of Project Based Learning says there are seven essentials needed for this to be successful. These are a need to know, driving question, student voice and choice, 21st century skills, inquiry and innovation, feedback and revision, and a public presentation.

Project Based Learning for Teachers says that project based learning fosters inquisitiveness. It requires the student to work for a long period of time answering a deep question that calls for a creative, unique product. These questions are not just yes or no questions. Project based learning calls for meeting standards of common core while learning unique communication skills, collaboration skills, and more!

What Motivates Students? interviews different students with things that motivate them, rewards they like, and helpful activities in the classroom. If the student doesn't make good grades, they can't play baseball games, cannot go swim, or will be grounded. If they have good behavior or grades, they will get surprise rewards or classroom money. For helpful activities, they will participate in different things throughout the week, such as Music Monday, where students dance around the classroom and tell facts they have learned.

Project Based Learning and Physical Education is a post about how a PE teacher used project based learning in his classroom. He divided students into groups and asked them to create a successful exercise program for middle school students. They had open conversations with their group, and had to communicate and collaborate. They had to test drive other projects of other groups, which engaged them in physical activity. They shared data and rhetoric while presenting their own project. The teacher said he felt this was a successful project and students understood PE standards even better after it was over.

10 Sites Supporting PBL is a great resource. It has ten different websites that can be used when working with project based learning in the classroom.


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