Project-Based Learning: Real-World Issues Motivate Students

Gone are the times when our students would sit and we would teach and they would nod their heads at the appropriate times. Times have changed, and it’s a good thing! Project-based learning has taken over. Now, project-based learning isn’t exactly a new idea, but slowly and surely more teachers and school systems are moving to project-based learning.  How many times have you been sitting in a class, learning some skill and said, “I will never use this in the real world”? I know I’ve said it a countless number of times. Well, project-based learning takes sit-and-get learning to exploration. Students try to answer a question, one that’s relevant to them, that’s greater than the immediate task at hand. Instead of learning a certain set of skills in each content area class, students are learning skills to, get this, use in the REAL WORLD while working on this one project. Sylvia Chard, Professor Emeritus of Elementary Education at the University of Alberta, recommends a three phase approach. Phase one has the students involved in a discussion about the project topic. Phase two involves fieldwork (this is where the magic happens). Students gather information by reading, writing, drawing, computing, and talking with experts. Phase three has the students present the project to an audience. 

If you’re wondering if project-based learning is right for your classroom, the benefits alone are enough to sway your opinion because there is a ton! Researchers and educators say that enthusiasm for learning is the biggest benefit. Because students are excited about what they’re learning, they tend to dig deeper and expand their interest in learning a wide variety of subjects. This deep thinking and learning causes students to retain what they’ve learned rather than forgetting it right after a test.