About PBL
Project-Based Learning is an approach that engages students in problem solving and critical thinking by introducing them to real-world problems and addressing complex questions through a comprehensive process of inquiry. Learners exhibit their knowledge and skills by developing a product or presentation either individually or collaboratively with their peers and experts. At the culmination event of this process, students are equipped and empowered to share their learning process and the product with audiences beyond the classroom As a result, the learners develop deep content knowledge and 21st-century success skills. PBL approach contributes towards building a culture of inquiry, creativity, teamwork, active learning and liveliness among students and teachers.
What is PBL
Project-based learning is a student-centered learning approach where students acquire a deeper knowledge through active exploration of real-world problems and personally meaningful ideas. Through this teaching method students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge.
The Seven Elements of BSS PBL Model
The project is outlined around a meaningful problem to solve or a question to answer or a real-life challenge that provokes and challenges student thinking. The process is initiated by an external stimulation that is open-ended and has room for a variety of expressions. It is further supported by an age-appropriate ‘guiding’ or ‘driving’ question, with student input, that revolves around the real challenge and has ample room for open-ended inquiry.
Students are driven by curiosity and imagination, the project is embedded consistently with opportunities to observe, question, investigate, and evaluate information and experiences. This continuous inquiry yields profound thinking and creativity as one idea builds upon another. Students can explore answers to their questions through a variety of resources including subject matter experts, experimentation and field work.
Project design requires thinking and learning to be aligned with the curriculum targets. It involves a balance between the desired knowledge and life skills to promote deep learning and encourage students to explore the subject content in depth.
Students discover knowledge in the context of problems that they are likely to encounter in the real world. The project has a real-world context where students address a need in their school, community, or the wider world. A project can have personal authenticity to students’ own concerns, interests, cultures, identities, and issues in their lives. Therefore, all projects have a focus on these life skills:
- Critical thinking/problem solving,
- Collaboration,
- Self-management.
The purpose of giving students autonomy is to promote their active involvement in the PBL process. The opportunity to choose and select the mode of expression at various points in a project enables them to think critically and steer their way through it. The following points should be considered:
- Voice and choice should be limited at times, just like in the real world, where we often work under constraints.
- Too much choice can be ineffective for students, so provide scaffolding.
- Create a list of product options with students, so they feel they’re being involved.
Reflection feeds into the further refinement of content, process, and product, it is integral to teaching & learning. Learners and teachers reflect continuously during the entire project. The process of reflection is a conscious activity where different tools and techniques are used to critically analyze the learning from experiences. Following essential questions are helpful for reflection:
- What are the students learning and why
- What do the students need to know and why
- How are they learning
- What would be the outcome
- How it was designed, taught, carried out
The project should challenge students to create products for the real world, which are meaningful and purposeful. A product can be tangible or it can be a presentation about a solution to a real-life challenge. Students are at the center of the activity and are given opportunities to present their learning and findings at the project culmination event. This culmination event has an assessment purpose as students get feedback from the audience. At the project culmination families, community members, and subject specialists are invited to attend students’ presentations to evaluate and provide feedback.