What is Project-Based Learning

In this lesson, we will have a brief look at the Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach. PBL had been the understudy for the past 40 years or so. Another approach that surfaced in the same time frame is Problem-Based Learning. Today lessons learned from both fields have been used collectively and are used under the common name of Project-Based Learning. John Dewey was one of the early proponents of the PBL teaching method.

What is PBL?

The motto of PBL is “learning by doing”. PBL advocates an instructional approach that promises deep learning with long-lasting memories. Although researchers have identified many important characteristics of PBL, the following are a few that have been recognized by most of the researchers

• PBL presents students with open-ended questions, challenges, or problems. Students are expected to explore the solutions and in the process, they learn many different aspects of the problem and the proposed solutions.
• While working on a project students seek knowledge to find solutions, the process brings together the academic knowledge, understanding the ability to reproduce in one place.
• PBL aims to teach students driven by their own inquiry. This stimulates curiosity and urges students to seek answers.
• PBL urges students to work in collaboration. It stimulates communication and creativity.
• Giving choice to the students is a fundamental characteristic of PBL. The choice spurs innovation and critical thinking
• Projects created by the students studying under the PBL approach become assets for them. Students incorporate feedback to continuously improve them.
• PBL provides an opportunity to learn and implement scientific methods by allowing the students to find unique solutions.

Key Elements of PBL

After broad research on human psychology and pedagogy, the following are key elements of PBL identified by the researchers

• Challenging Problem: the problem posed to the students should be challenging.
• Sustained Enquiry: students should continuously think about the problem and try to come up with different solutions.
• Authenticity: the projects should be relevant to real life.
• Student Voice and Choice: students should be given the liberty to choose their own tools
• Reflection: students are motivated to reflect on different aspects, for example, their own thought process and proposed solutions.
• Critique and Revision: students are allowed to change their methodology. This promotes a critique of themselves and revisiting their line of thought.
• Public Product: students are motivated to choose projects whose outputs are of public interest.