Shelly Henderson - EDT 3470 - Reading Reflection #1

As I start my journey through Project-Based Learning (PBL) I need to consider many things.  I need to be willing to learn new things, including things I may not be comfortable with at the outset.  I need to be willing to give up my hold on the traditional teacher’s role where I am the expert.  I need to be willing to take risks, accept change, and trust that students are up for the challenge.  I need to trust that PBL projects are worth the effort even though they may seem daunting.  I need to understand that students live and learn best in the real world and that tapping into that can make a big difference in the classroom.  New learning contexts today are available and encouraging the project approach.  Teachers need to have the courage to try embracing such a wonderful idea. 

The benefits of the PBL approach are huge!  This approach is changing classrooms all over the world and providing real-life experiences for both the teacher and student.  They are both encouraged to reach outside the classroom to the world.  PBL encourages the creation of new learning communities. The world that awaits graduates today warmly welcomes students that come from a PBL approach.  They are able to discuss, research, analyze and problem-solve creatively and cooperatively, skills that are crucial to have in this day and age.  Teachers need to prepare their students for the world and using PBL allows for that to happen in an engaging, fun, and rewarding way.

The typical student experience is changed when they learn by engaging in real-world projects which is a big part of a project-based experience.  They are able to create their own meaning from their own questions, not from a general set provided to them.  Students are actively engaged in their learning and are encouraged to produce authentic projects while collaborating with their peers.  Students have choices and they learn how to handle them through active learning and teamwork.  Students who participate in PBL are much more prepared for the real-world and have a confidence that cannot be bought. 

When working with a PBL approach there are many things to consider.  As a teacher, you must consider your learning goals for your students, the way you talk with them, and your classroom management style.  All are subject to change with this new approach and you need to be ready to change too.  You will become a different teacher, one with new expectations for your students, one who does not need to be in control, and one who trusts their students to manage their time and their own progress.  Your classroom will probably not look like a traditional one.  You will need to make changes to allow for additional technology and students to work in groups.  How you assess your students will need consideration and may change as you see what happens when your students work through their projects.  You will think more carefully about what artifacts you collect through the process.  Using the PBL approach puts projects at the center, not as conclusions at the end.  You will need to be prepared to communicate with parents and people at your school.  You need to know and believe in the approach and be ready to share that enthusiasm. 

The New Technology Model was designed to meet the changing needs of the workforce our students will be entering.  It has PBL at its core and has proven highly successful at New Technology High in California.  At this school, there are only 100 students per grade, projects targeting real-world learning are the main focus, and technology is everywhere.  Teachers collaborate with each other as well as with their students.  They share their knowledge with fellow teachers, encouraging each other to search for new ideas.  Students are graded throughout the process which encourages them to focus on areas needing improvement.  What makes New Technology High so special is that the whole school supports the PBL approach.  Teachers and students have bought in and are engaged and working together with a real-world focus.  It is a school that has been and will continue to be replicated.  The PBL approach is a real, wonderful way to educate our students.