PBL

PBL

1. What is it?

   • “a model that organizes learning around projects" (Thomas, 2000)
     • What is a project?
       • “developing cumulatively in response to a basic objective" (Fried-Booth, 1986)

2. Key features

   • Explorations over a period of time;
   • Student-centered learning activity
   • Challenging questions, problems or topics
   • De-emphasis of teacher-directed activities
   • Frequent feedback
   • Hands-on activities & authentic resources
   • A collaborative environment
   • The use of a variety of skills
   • Production of meaningful artifacts
   • Assessment in process and product
   • Driving questions
     • Feasible
     • Worthwhile
     • Contextualized
     • Meaningful
     • Ethical
   • Situated inquiry
   • Collabrorations
   • Technology tools
   • Creation of artifacts

3. Difficulties

   • Improving Ss' motivation
   • Making Ss to concentrate on learning tasks
   • Helping Ss to connect new content with prior knowledge
   • Performing cooperative learning activities efficiently
   • Ss' negotiation & compromise

4. Benefits

   • Ss develop confidence & independence
   • Ss develop metacognitive skills
   • integrates the 4 language skills

5. Implementation process

   • 1) Ss & ins agree on a theme for the project
   • 2) Ss & ins determine the final outcome
   • 3) Ss & instr structure the project
   • 4) Inst prepares Ss for the lang demands of info gathering
   • 5) Ss gather information
   • 10) Ss evaluate the project.
   • 9) Ss present the final product.
   • 8) Ins prepares Ss for the lang demands of the culminating activity.
   • 6) Ins prepares Ss for the lang demands of compiling & analyzing data.
   • 7) Ss compile & analyze information.

6. Learning Science ideas

   • Active construction
   • Situated learning
   • Social interaction
   • Cognitive tools

7. It is a form of situated learning in which Ss

   • Investigate questions
   • Propose hypotheses
   • Discuss their ideas
   • Try out new ideas
   • Challenge the ideas of others