Jim Dachos's List: Project Based Learning

• The old-school model of passively learning facts and reciting them out of context is no longer sufficient to prepare students to survive in today's world. Solving highly complex problems requires that students have both fundamental skills (reading, writing, and math) and <!--digital-age--> 21st century skills (teamwork, problem solving, research gathering, time management, information synthesizing, utilizing high tech tools). With this combination of skills, students become directors and managers of their learning process, guided and mentored by a skilled teacher.
• planning, critical thinking, reasoning, and creativity
• strong communication skills, both for interpersonal and presentation needs
• visualizing and decision making
• knowing how and when to use technology and choosing the most appropriate tool for the task
• By bringing real-life context and technology to the curriculum through a PBL approach, students are encouraged to become independent workers, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners. Teachers can communicate with administrators, exchange ideas with other teachers and subject-area experts, and communicate with parents, all the while breaking down invisible barriers such as isolation of the classroom, fear of embarking on an unfamiliar process, and lack of assurances of success.
• If students learn to take responsibility for their own learning, they will form the basis for the way they will work with others in their adult lives.

• PBL Lends Itself to Authentic Assessment

    

  Authentic assessment and evaluation allow us to systematically document a child's progress and development. PBL encourages this by doing the following
• multiple assessment opportunities
• child to demonstrate his or her capabilities while working independently
• child's ability to apply desired skills such as doing research
• child's ability to work with his or her peers, building teamwork and group skills
• teacher to learn more about the child as a person
• teacher communicate in progressive and meaningful ways with the child or a group of children on a range of issues
• use of technology enable students, teachers, and administrators to reach out beyond the school building
• Students become engaged builders of a new knowledge base
• teaches children to take control of their learning, the first step as lifelong learners.
• PBL addresses these differences, because students must use all modalities in the process of researching and solving a problem, then communicating the solutions. When children are interested in what they are doing and are able to use their areas of strength, they achieve at a higher level.

• Schools where PBL is practiced find a decline in absenteeism, an increase in cooperative learning skills, and improvement in student achievement. When technology is used to promote critical thinking and communication, these benefits are enhanced.

    

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• Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop  innovative products and processes using technology.
• Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work  collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and  contribute to the learning of others
• Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information
• Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage  projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital  tools and resources
• Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology  and practice legal and ethical behavior.
• Students demonstrate a sound understanding of  technology concepts, systems, and   operations
• Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and  operations

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