A big buzz word in education nowadays is active learning! We know as a fact that learning occurs when students are able to construct their own understanding of the content. We also know that students have shorter attention spans, especially when they encounter a teacher or a lecturer in front of them.

Studies have shown that Project-based learning stretches student’s ability to understand concepts that would otherwise mean nothing to them. The main point is not to memorize facts or gather information. When students go through a real-world learning experience, as they can do when working on projects, the final product is only a small chunk of what they were able to experience during the process.

We understand that to incorporate project based learning to a school curriculum cannot be done from one day to the next. It is a change of paradigm for schools and the pedagogical concept would have to be reviewed. However, there are many concepts of the project based learning that we should take advantage of.

Let´s take a look at some of the facts and steps:

Project based learning make classes more interesting not only for student´s but for teacher´s as well. Although teachers might struggle a little at the beginning with planning and schedules, the learning results overcome the setbacks. Choose a unit from your course book, set the learning goal, come up with a driving question and make it into a project! You will definitely see the results. Student´s engagement is the first of many!