[ARCHIVED] Project-based learning

[apageor2]

I've been deciding the best type of teaching for distance learning when creating course development and an area that just came to my attention is project based learning. After learning more about it it seems to be something that will bring more real life activity and scenario to the students for the particular subject I'm involved with teaching. I will be getting more involved with this type of teaching as how to best make it useful with the topics that are taught using my business knowledge.

I am curious to know if there is any one who has also used this type of teaching method with their students and how the process has worked to their benefit. Thanks.

Regards,

Sue

[kona]

I use project based learning in my Statistics course and find that it does a much better job teaching the content in a way that students can actually relate to it and "get" how the different things they are learning actually work and fit together in a real world example.

For statistics this involves a number of course projects where the students are coming up with their own real world project they want to do (within the course/project guidelines) and then go out and collect and analyze the data themselves. In addition, they write up an actual full paper - Abstract, Intro, Methods, Results, & Conclusion - for each project. So yes, this is a College statistics class and they are writing and THINKING about the numbers and why they did what they did and what the numbers actually mean. The biggest thing is the Conclusion where I don't care if you rejected the null or not (that's for the results), I want to know in real world terms what do your results mean?

I love project based learning and have found it very rewarding using it as an Instructor as well! It's so fun when students "get" how things are related or how something we talked about in class really looks/works in the real world!

[apageor2]

I remember taking a Statistics class during my undergrad MIS major; couldn't make up my mind so did a double major; part of it was Web Dev and the other part was Networking; double the work but loved every minute of it because the intensity built my logic up to a higher plateau and got me thinking stronger on matters. I remember creating a website project in Statistics class then provided detail how it could have success or disaster by using a few detailed examples.

The more I have been considering this idea the more I like using this because it lets a student use his or her own thoughts and build ideas with logic as to how they would handle real issues in their own mind. I appreciate your thoughts.

[apageor2]

 @kona ​ wanted to provide a link to you actually a few of them you may be interested in taking a look at. During my searching I happen to find a website that has helped me and has also given me a large amount of ideas for creating a classroom with building an actual syllabus for one possibly two subject areas. Check out this URL as it gives a five step vision for PBL., I think you will find this has tons of information including the links that are available. Project-Based Learning | Edutopia

Feel free to share as this is one of the best resources that I've come across for explaining how it can be used to bring this type of course development into building distant learning usage into your classroom and benefit your students.

[kona]

Very nice resource! Thank you for sharing! I've bookmarked it!

[soporte_eva]

Hello everyone, I know it's been a while since you talked about this topic, I have been asked to review how to apply this methodology in canvas classrooms and I have been told about this tool https://dreamshaper.com/ that works on project based learning, do you know it, in this time have you found any similar tool that you can work with in canvas, and how has it been?

[john1344]

Hello Sue, 

I'm an instructor in an entrepreneurship department and we focus primarily on Project Based Learning, both individual and team. It's a great way to have students create learning through creating. I've also taught distance learning, where discussion boards played a key role. A site dedicated to PBL in K-12 is PBLWorks. https://my.pblworks.org/. 

The individuality of project development and assessment when working in teams can be tricky. I've had success having students create a Google Site that they update with content as they progress through the assignment. What types of questions do you have?

Jim J