Project-based learning (PBL), one of the
enduring approaches to education that supports the use of webquests, is
focused on the learner constructing meaning and knowledge from an
assigned activity. Students are given an assigned task or questions that
include the creation of a product that will illustrate or represent what
they have learned.
PBL is part of a
constructivist approach to learning. Effective PBL strategies allow
for a variety of
learning
styles and
multiple
forms of intelligence
have a real world authentic orientation, take
place in a risk free environment that have positive feedback and allows
for student choice, encourages higher-order thinking, uses hand-on
experiences and various modes of communication. Student assessment is
congruent with the assigned project and includes self-assessment and/or
peer assessment. Students are responsible for their own learning and the
teacher's role is that of a facilitator. The assigned projects use
real-life data, are interdisciplinary in nature and are connected to
previous learning by the student whenever possible.
The Calgary Board of Education has
described
project-based learning in health. The
Telus Learning website has several articles and tools that explain
how project-based learning is made easier through the effective use of
technology.
There are also some excellent online
courses and workshops on project-based learning publiched by:
You many also refer to many other
web-based resources on
project-based learning that are listed on the project learning page
of this website.
