Do teachers who have used PBL with extensive professional development teach and assess 21st century skills to a greater extent than teachers who have not had similar professional development or do not use PBL?
Case study of a school beginning to implement PBL. Some concerns and learning of teachers:
1. How to balance structure and freedom. Both teachers and students struggled with this.
2. How to integrate 21st century skills appropriately
3. Need more time for collaboration, planning, implementation and reflection
4. A "grassroots" approach to PD helps- teachers becoming 'experts' or 'leaders' in PBL within the school itself
5. How to formulate authentic assessments and convene authentic audiences- This was particularly difficult for teachers
PBL represents a significant change in the ways schools work. It requires commitment from a variety of partners who are willing to change their paradigms of education along with the students, teachers, and administrators in schools. University partnerships help.
This study of elementary students from the University of Hong Kong found that
Inquiry project-based learning has positive effects on student reading abilities, and
Inquiry PBL also has positive effects on attitudes towards readings
This study examines online technologies that can support project based learning (PBL) and how much use of these technologies relates to time spent on this approach to instruction, perceived preparedness and ability to overcome challenges.
Project-Based Learning (PBL) is an innovative approach to learning that teaches a multitude of strategies critical for success in the twenty-first century. Students drive their own learning through inquiry, as wellas work collaboratively to research and create projectsthat reflect their knowledge.
This case study examined how members of a small group in a mainstreamed seventh grade science class interacted with and supported each other as they engaged in a problem-based learning (PBL) unit.