Enabling environment for flourshing of ideas

“We are living in a new economy - powered by technology, fueled by information, and driven by knowledge. ."--"FUTUREWORKS: TRENDS AND CHALLENGES FOR WORK IN THE 21ST CENTURY" (U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR)

In view of this quote, can we say that our system of learning, prepares our children to survive in this competitive world? Unfortunately, our system of learning is not up to the mark. Our children are far behind in today’s world of work.

We still believe in a traditional method of learning that is, rote learning and to some extent, it is successful, but does not help in the development of their career growth.

Many problems occur in their real lives, no doubt. Solving problems requires that students must have both fundamental skills (reading, writing, and math) and 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.

We know that children have various learning styles which help them to build their knowledge from differing backgrounds and experiences. It is also recognized that children have a broader range of capabilities than they have been permitted to show in regular classrooms with the traditional style of teaching.

Now the question becomes how children learn to explore their potential. Who can help them to expand? Obviously it is teachers who can bring lives in their life, who can make them lifelong learner by adapting new method of teachings, there are many methods of teaching, one such is PROJECT BASED LEARNING (PBL)

What is project-based learning?
As the name suggests, project-based learning (PBL) is a method of teaching that involves doing, rather than simply listening.

Teachers can create age-appropriate, topic-specific projects that can be carried out in a classroom setting. Students are then given the opportunity to make, build, experiment or create something.

This type of hands-on learning has been proven to increase understanding and retention, and gives children the tools to really understand and have insight into complex topics. It’s not only better for keeping bright minds occupied, it’s also much more fun for everyone, and when you’re a kid, that’s the best way to learn!

Why PBL Works?
Project-based learning works better than the old methods of teaching simply because kids enjoy it more. When children can touch, smell, experiment and get their hands dirty, they are more inclined to explore new ideas, and they tend to remember what they have learned in greater detail. There is proof that this type of learning improves information retention, but also helps children to understand complex topics and apply new skills to other problems.

But parents and teachers don't realize the impact of project-based learning (PBL) on the education of school students. The reason for this is simply that they may not have been exposed to the concept; they can't support something if they don't know it exists or how it's different from the education their child receives every day.

Project based learning is a non-traditional education model that seeks to better prepare students for solving real-world problems and issues while teaching them what they need to know to succeed in school right now.

When we are connecting academic situations to the real world then this brings larger benefits to the students. They learn with the same approach and ultimately they use these new found skills for their hobbies, passions, and careers. This helps instils essential problem-solving techniques within them from the beginning, and significantly increasing their chances of success in whatever career they choose once their education has been completed.

Project based learning also provide students to use multiple learning techniques to succeed, including research, logical deduction, and iterative learning (trial and error). Sometimes these projects are too large and complex for one student to do alone, project based learning also tends to encourage teamwork. PBL is not just a way of learning; it's a way of working together. 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.

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 because PBL and the use of technology enable students, teachers, and administrators to reach out beyond the school building.

"One of the major advantages of project work is that it makes school more like real life. It's an in-depth investigation of a real-world topic worthy of children's attention and effort."-EDUCATION RESEARCHER SYLVIA CHARD
Another advantage of PBL is it leads to authentic assessment and evaluation which allow us to systematically record a child's progress and development.

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 .

Project-based learning also provides an opportunity for real world connections through the four disciplines of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), this helps the students to understand the more complex ideas and subjects from the bottom up.

Project-based learning helps to make abstract ideas on topics more accessible to children. It also makes it more fun to explore these topics when it is in the form of 3D games; children have more fun, joyfully spending their time with their full attention given to it.

There is possibility that when you live in the developed world where your children are already using PBL training methods in their classroom, then the result will be much more the better. Never miss an opportunity to show your children how things work, because often, just telling them won’t get the ideas across the way you had hoped but children learn best through their environments, not rote memorization. When research have been on 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.

What's One to Do?
Studies suggest that project-based learning, when fully realized, can improve student learning. However, the research also underscores how difficult it is to implement project-based learning well.

Together these findings suggest caution in embracing this practice unless the conditions for success are in place, including strong school support, access to well-developed projects, and a collaborative culture for teachers and students.

Yet, teachers can use the key ideas underlying project-based learning in some measure in any classroom.

Using real-life problems to motivate students, challenging them to think deeply about meaningful content, and enabling them to work collaboratively are practices that yield benefits for all students.

By: Ghafoor Unnisa