Exploring Project-Based Learning

In this activity, participants identify basic elements of project-based learning (PBL) after viewing video examples. Participants then discuss the role of the teacher and the students in a PBL environment. Finally, participants discuss the benefits of incorporating technology into PBL. The videos used in this activity are available on the portion of the George Lucas Educational Foundation website devoted to project-based learning.

Materials:

  • computers with Internet access and ability to play online videos
  • chart paper
  • markers

Procedure:

  1. Explain to participants that they will be spending the next hour or so exploring project-based learning through videos and discussion.
  2. Divide participants into three groups. Each group will view two online videos that demonstrate PBL in action. After watching the videos, they will spend about five minutes discussing and recording their impressions of PBL. Additional videos are available at The Big List on Project Learning at the George Lucas Educational Foundation.

    Group 1:Geometry in the Real World: Students as Architects (10:35)
     Geo-Literacy: Forging New Ground (4:13)
    Group 2:It's All Happening at the Zoo School (9:56)
     Space Age Thinkers (3:31)
    Group 3:Students Find Their Voices through Multimedia (7:41)
     Swamped: Louisiana Students Become Wetlands Custodians (7:43)

    If multiple computers with Internet access are not available, view any two of the videos as a large group and then break into small groups for discussion.

  3. Bring the small groups back together and have one representative from each group share the groups' impressions of PBL.
  4. As a large group, identify some of the basic characteristics and benefits of PBL.
  5. Continue with a large group discussion of PBL. Suggested discussion questions:
    1. How are the roles of the teachers and students engaged in PBL different from a traditional classroom setting?
    2. How could technology be used to enhance PBL?

Participants interested in exploring PBL further may find these videos helpful:

Start with the Pyramid (8:56)
Project-Based Learning: An Overview (9:00)