Feb.3: Project Learning Reflection

Project learning has always been something I have been excited about. I believe it is an excellent way for students to get hands-on knowledge about a variety of things. Plus, it's fun! Students are able to solve real-life problems, in real time, with real resources, with real outcomes/solutions.
Seymour Pepert, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says putting students at the center of learning is the key to changing the current education system. I agree with this existentialist point of view, but I also think there is a set of basic knowledge in all the basic subjects (history, math, science, English) that need to be emphasized as well. They need some amount of book study in order to practice in using books as a research tool, and also to give them knowledge that can be helpful once they begin their project, or even outside the classroom when their knowledge truly gets tested.
Speaking of testing, how does an educator assess knowledge learned if the class is only taught using projects? It becomes more difficult. There needs to be projects AND lecture AND book study AND field trips.
It is great to have students collaborate to find solutions to issues about which they are concerned. This teaches teamwork, leadership, resourcefulness, how to be a consumer of information, and the actual topic they are researching...all are valuable lessons to learn for life.
This approach to learning is something I plan to incorporate into my history and French classes. History is written by the victors, so who knows if what we read in textbooks is entirely accurate. It's not! In order to gain a better understanding of historical events, a student needs to have an understanding also of the times in which the event happened and research an event themselves. This can happen by reading newspapers or journals/diaries written at that time. In my class, project learning will incorporate 60% of my plans. Along with projects, there will be readings, group discussions, and lecture. But, in history, the project, the research, is key.
In French, I would love to have the students research francophone nations (I did that in high school and I really enjoyed it). Projects can help language learners a lot. Projects may include: writing assignments, oral presentations on research,etc...