The Culture of Schooling

Project based learning shifts away from teacher-centered instruction to student-centered projects. Teachers of all subjects and grade levels can shift learning in their classes to PBL. It is essential in the students taking ownership of their learning and learning more. 

The biggest asset with PBL is that it facilitates the creative critical thinking in the student learner. 

This model helps make learning relevant to students by establishing connections to life outside the classroom and by addressing real world issues. In the classroom, PBL gives teachers an opportunity to build relationships with students by acting as their coach, facilitator, and co-learner. In the school and beyond, the model further allows teachers opportunities to build relationships among colleagues and with those in the larger community. Student projects can be shared with other teachers, parents, and others who have a vested interest in the students' education. http://www.nea.org/tools/16963.htm 

What is the best way for a teacher to create a PBL environment? 

Create essential question that drive students to learning. 

The Buck Institute says the “driving question” of the project should be tied to standards and should create a need to know the targeted material. Driving questions make the difference between simple engagement and engagement in learning. http://www.aft.org/education/igniting-fire/project-learning-essentials

Goodwin cites research showing a major shortcoming of many student projects as “doing for the sake of doing.” Goodwin described how students involved in a rocket-building project initially cited the goal as just “to build them and see how high they will go.” After the project was framed around questions of content where students were to determine which of several choices of design would make the rockets go higher or change its trajectory, students showed more learning of the principles of aerodynamics. - See more at: http://www.aft.org/education/igniting-fire/project-learning-essentials#sthash.m1N5C94g.dpuf

Around the world- PBL

Based on the numerous policies that are in place, the Vietnamese government is very keen on supporting ICT infusion into education.

It is in this light that UNESCO Bangkok conducted its 9th capacity building workshop on designing and implementing ICT-supported project-based learning in Hanoi, Vietnam on 23-27 August 2011. The workshop is part of a larger project, “Facilitating ICT-Pedagogy Integration” funded by Korea Funds-in-Trust that aims to create an enabling environment for student-centered use of ICT by building a stronger partnership between teacher education institutions (TEIs) and schools using project-based learning (PBL) and telecollaboration.  

http://ict.unescobkk.org/blog/2011/11/making-real-world-connections-through-project-based-learning-and-telecollaboration/