Schools all over the world have started using project-based learning as a way to meet the needs of every student in a classroom. This teaching method comes in handy when there is a class filled with students of different academic calibers.
If you have no idea what project-based learning is, you have come to the right place. This article will be talking in-depth about the teaching method, including a few examples and ideas that it supports.
What is Project-Based Learning?
In short, project-based learning is a type of teaching method that allows students to acquire a deeper understanding of their work by exploring real-world problems, challenges, and situations.
As we have already mentioned, this type of education is a great way to include every student in a classroom, no matter their academic capabilities. Project-based learning involves the teacher or students devising projects that will challenge students to look further into their work.
Examples Of Project-Based Learning
It is straightforward to define a concept; however, you will never truly understand it without looking at a few examples. Below, we have made a list of some scenarios in which project-based learning could be used in the school environment.
- Science: ask the students to create a model of something (for example, an atom) and ask them to label every part
- Reading: ask the class to create an advertisement that discusses the storyline of a book
- Math: get the students to plan vacations to various destinations and work out how much that trip will cost
- Social Studies: Create a PowerPoint that discusses a specific country, state, continent, culture, or political system
Ideals That Project Based Learning Supports
- Reinforcing content retention – past research has shown that project-based learning can be used to improve student retention.
- Creating a deeper understanding – when you ask a student to use the knowledge they learn in the classroom physically, they use higher-level thinking skills. This creates a deeper understanding of the work.
- Teaches collaboration and cooperation – when students are asked to work in groups, their collaborative and communicative skills will improve.
Concluding Thoughts
Project-based learning is a teaching method that revolves around getting the students to complete projects and tasks to create a deeper understanding of their school work. This approach is often used in science, math, social studies, and reading classes.
More so, the teaching method can be used to support several ideals in the classroom. For example, it teaches the students about collaboration and cooperation. It creates a deeper understanding of the work, reinforcing content retention.