Project-based learning (PBL) is a methodological strategy. Teachers implement a set of tasks based on solving questions or problems. And the students, through a process of research or creation, autonomously and with a high level of cooperation between them, they make a final product that will be presented to the rest of their colleagues.
One of the advantages of project-based learning is its interdisciplinary nature, the same project can have more than one solution. Students are free to choose their strategies and approaches to address problems, which will affect their broad-mindedness.
What does project-based learning bring?
Active education makes sense with project-based learning, which can be carried out any discipline of studies. Students will have to work in collaboration both with their classmates, as perhaps, in the projects of greater depth, the collaboration will be with elements outside the classroom, such as specialists in the field.
The boys and girls who tackle the projects will acquire skills as important as problem solving, communication, active listening, planning or self-evaluation. It highlights the meaning of collectivity. In a complementary way, students have control over their own learning. And they can additionally identify related subtopics.
Other important contributions is that encourages creativity and imagination. In addition, by posing a challenge, the spirit of improvement is worked on in each individual, within their own standards of excellence.
Basic elements to build a project
When approaching project-based learning, a series of elements are necessary, such as that the project topic is relevant to students. We can ask them the question of the cultural, physical, environmental heritage environment, etc. To motivate them for this project, they must understand the context, recognize the importance of developing this type of project, and tell about it.
Another important element will be the evaluation criteria, with them, learning and the project itself can be better specified. The activities learning that students will address throughout the project are essential, these can be directed by the teacher or individually or collectively, be raised by the students.
The challenge or challenge will be resolved with a Final product, this is the result that should be exposed. Project learning does not end with learning, but rather with exposure before an audience, be it classmates, those from other lines, or families, and even experts. It is also possible that students may be asked to self-evaluate the project.
Differences with traditional teaching
As opposed to what is considered a traditional teaching based on presentation, practice and test, project-based learning search, choose, discuss, apply, correct, test. It focuses on that learning is doing, it is active and shared learning. Students develop three capacities or competencies, which will be very useful in the societies of the future and today.
These three capacities are linked to three types of minds, the scientific, the ethical and the personal. With the scientific and artistic mind the ability to use and communicate knowledge in a disciplined, critical and creative way is developed. With this learning, the child faces a real problem, poses a challenge, co-designs the plan, executes it and obtains a product.
La ethical and caring mind works on developing the ability to live and coexist in increasingly heterogeneous human groups. Project-based learning allows training skills related to discrepancy, and assuming that individual events can have collective consequences.
The school should help develop the personal mind. That each boy or girl moves from his inherited personality, through the learned personality, to a chosen personality and this type of learning constitutes a strategy that allows all these processes.