SO...what does PBL look like? Let's see, it suggests that we start by asking a question that every student can answer. Well that seems reasonable. Next...questions asked will direct students to encounter the principles and major concepts of the content through student driven inquiry......whoa, whoa, whoa....you mean without me standing rigidly in the front of the room delivering a mind numbing and behind blistering lecture? Let's see...students of different learning styles can learn and present material in a way that best suits that individual style. You mean we should want students to actually enjoy learning and coming to school just because it fits their learning style? It continues...students will investigate real world problems while integrating genuine curriculum. Well that is just educational anarchy. And finally...PBL encourages students to explore abstract and intellectual tasks in order to make judgements and synthesize information meaningfully. Well that is just crazy talk, after all I have curriculum I have to cover and I'm the teacher and they are the students so I am supposed to lead them to the fountain of knowledge......right? Hmmmm maybe we need to rethink the status quo a little.
Background on project based learning or PBL can be found in multiple places but most echo the need to develop 21st century skills in our students. I am happy when my students remember to wear deodorant and bring their own pencil to class but let's just say that maybe, just maybe I might want them to pick up a few additional bonus skills in my class room like personal and social responsibility, strong communication skills, cultural understanding, decision making and knowing how to choose and use technology appropriately to accomplish a genuine task. Just saying, it might be nice if later in life my former students might actually contribute positively to the world situation. I suppose I could look at Problem Based Learning just a little more and sarcasm aside, it really does make sense. For years our students have been telling us that they learn best by doing hands on activities and they like to talk to each other. Sometimes they even cooperate with each other without me standing over them. It is easy to see that the engagement level goes up significantly when they can make some personal connection to the question and task. Perhaps it is best to try and teach how our students actually learn. By doing so not only will they construct and build their own learning but we also just might construct and build better citizens that can stand up and deliver in our quickly changing world.
Hi Diane,
ReplyDeleteI believe PBL is an effective way of teaching. Because as you said students enjoy working on projects and collaborating together. They find that very interesting and beneficial.
Yes I agree Dana. I think that the human mind by its very design, wants and needs to be challenged. Human Growth emphasizes how important it is to provide a stimulating environment for babies and toddlers if they are going to make vital neural connections that will be used later in life. Why wouldn't we, as educators then, want to keep feeding those important and meaningful stimuli into the brains of our learners? Problem Based Learning makes sense. Now I just have to find ways to incorporate it more into the day to day workings of my class room. Thanks for dropping by.
ReplyDeleteDiane, I love reading your posts. Your humor and insights must keep your students engaged in you and what you are saying just by you being you. When students are fully involved with a project, I love the hum of their voices, their movement from one desk to another to help each other or to another group altogether to get advice from different classmates. From an outsider, it may seem chaotic but to me and the students its organized chaos and it is productive. I also agree with MommaMiller, the more they get involved, it almost becomes a learning frenzy. When I tell them to wrap things up for the day I hear moans and groans!
ReplyDeleteDeborah, Thanks for the vote of confidence. I sometimes feel as if I may be a distraction to those students that like a very structured learning environment but even those students seem to appreciate times when we are up and moving. I am right there with you about loving to hear them when they are really engaged. It can get a little loud but I think that we can tell the difference if the tide turns to off task. I am lucky that our administrators understand that learning can be loud. It sounds like you have your kids wanting to learn and do more and organized chaos is the best kind of chaos there is!
ReplyDeleteI love reading your posts...they always bring the information to light in a comical way. I love how you tie in analogies that somehow make sense. Having students work on PBL is challenging at first but to see their engagement is worth it. I have done some inquiry based learning with my students and found that until they really apply themselves, they just want me to tell them the answers or how to solve the problem. I have also found that as my students investigate; they become more interested in what they are learning about and sometimes collaborate with other students and teach them.
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