Project-Based Learning (PBL)

By Ria Mastromatteo, Educational Technology Consultant ()

"Read Chapter 4 and answer the questions at the end."

"Do the odd problems in Section 1."

Sound like when you were in school? (I have to admit assigning that problem thing myself when I was teaching!)

Well, a new day is coming! Problem-based, or project-based, learning is stepping up to the forefront of education. In PBL students work in groups to solve challenging problems that are authentic and curriculum- or standards-grounded. The teacher's role is to guide and to advise.

Technology plays a major role in this type of teaching. Students can use the Internet to gather information, e-mail experts, and join forums or newsgroups to assist in the information gathering process. Graphic organizers, databases and spreadsheets can help students to organize and analyze information. Word processors, web pages and multimedia presentation programs offer ways for the students to present their material to others.

Assessment is a major part of PBL. Teachers need to assess along the way in any project to help students as they proceed (formative evaluation) and then assess again at the end to see what the students have learned overall (summative evaluation). Once again technology can help in the making of rubrics.

One study done on the effect of PBL on standardized testing showed that Co-nect schools (which rely heavily on the PBL approach) gained almost 26 percent more in test scores in all subject areas compared to control schools. A study at Stanford University monitored math students in a three-year study in two schools. Both classes started at the same point, but they found that in the PBL school "not only were the students able to apply their mathematical knowledge, but they also scored significantly higher on the national exam." (Technology and Learning, January 2003).

For more information about problem-based learning, try these sites:

Problem-Based Learning You'll find some quick information and at the end of the article, there is an entire book online in PDF format. Go to http://chemeng.mcmaster.ca/pbl/pbl.htm.

Investigating PBL: A WebQuest You assume the role of a student investigating PBL. Excellent questions and links are available on the site at http://edweb.sdsu.edu/clrit/PBL_WebQuest.html.

Problem-Based Learning The University of Delaware offers a hotlist for teachers interested in the topic at http://www.udel.edu/pbl.

Internet Classrooms Problem-Based Learning Features general information as well as project ideas at http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/problearn.html.