Project Based Learning (PBL)

 Hello everyone. The topic we are going to deal with this week is about Project Based Learning . For better understanding of PBL we should consider the following :
What is PBL?
How it can be used in teaching?
Personal review of PBL .
The advantages/ benefits of PBL.
Which are the activities where it can be applied ?

PBL – what is it about ?

PBL is the act of learning through identifying a real-world problem and developing its solution. Students show what they learn as they journey through the unit, not just at the end.
PBL is the ongoing act of learning about different subjects simultaneously. This is achieved by guiding students to identify, through research, a real-world problem (local to global) developing its solution using evidence to support the claim, and presenting the solution through a multimedia approach based in a set of 21st-century tools.
Students show what they learn as they journey through the unit, interact with its lessons, collaborate with each other, and assess themselves and each other. They don't just take a test or produce a product at the end to show their learning.

How it can be used in teaching ?

If you’re looking to use project-based learning (PBL) in the classroom next term, a new research review offers some practical pointers for teachers.
there are factors that can aid the successful adoption of project-based teaching in schools. These include:

a- Technology . ( Technology is regarded as a major enabler for students to design and prepare their project. Also it helps both , lower and higher performing students to construct their knowledge. )
b- High quality group work. ( Positive interactions between students, individual accountability, equal participation and social skills are the main aspects to the success of PBL collaboration, particularly when there are gender, achievement or social hierarchies at play.
c- Scaffolding. ( The successful implementation of PBL in the classroom lies on the teacher’s ability to effectively scaffold students’ learning, motivate, support and guide them along the way. )
d- Professional support. ( Teachers who receive support from senior managers and colleagues are more likely to implement and persist with PBL.


Using PBL in teaching is really interesting and helpful for students , especially for those who have low performance in class because this method could be the best way for them to express and share their knowledge and information about the subject. In Project Based Learning , teachers make learning come alive for students. Too many students are unprepared for the modern economy and the challenges of the 21st century. Project Based Learning prepares students for academic, personal, and career success, and readies young people to rise to the challenges of their lives and the world they will inherit. I think that Project Based Learning prepares students for success in the real world like no other teaching style can.

PBL Advantages
 Below I’m providing a kind of chart to understand which are the advantages of using PBL :

 

In what particular activities it can be applied?
The picture below will show you 3 perfect ways of PBL that will work in every classroom .

Also I think that the Webquest that our teacher guided us to use is another activity of PBL that can be applied in classroom . Nowadays , for a language classroom the concept of 'learner autonomy' has become very vital for the ELT practicioners and it is defined differently from different experts. The main essence of learning autonomy is to engage learner in the teaching and learning process. 

Also "webquest" is a new concept for teachers . It is an internet based module designed by an instructor that presents a task with predefined process , resources and a rubric for the learners to undertake the tasks step by step and at the end they self-assess their performance based on the rubric provided for the module. 

#quoteoftheweek " THE ONE WHO CAN MAKE HARD THINGS EASY IS THE EDUCATOR !"