Project-Based Learning

http://www.edutopia.org/pbl-research-learning-outcomes

What is Project-Based Learning?

Project-based learning hails from a tradition of pedagogy which asserts that students learn best by experiencing and solving real-world problems. According to researchers (Barron & Darling-Hammond, 2008;Thomas, 2000), project-based learning essentially involves the following:

• students learning knowledge to tackle realistic problems as they would be solved in the real world
• increased student control over his or her learning
• teachers serving as coaches and facilitators of inquiry and reflection
• students (usually, but not always) working in pairs or groups

I'd like to highlight bullet number 3, 'teachers serving as coaches and facilitators of inquiry and reflection.' This is actually a great point about the Project -Based Learning. You see, in most traditional classes (with traditional teachers) the teachers do most of the talking. It seems that the primary responsibility of teachers is to explain, to do the talking. Most teachers will feel like they are not doing their job if they talk less. There is a tendency to avoid students do most of the discussion. That is why this project-based approach will take some time for many teachers because in this approach students will do the discussion while the teachers will only act as the facilitator, in this case the students will do most of the talking and working. Teachers will do the observation and give guidance. Isn't it awesome?

So, the challenges here are:
1. teachers start implementing  Project-Based Learning
2. teachers enjoy being facilitators for the students