Project Based LearningProject Based Learning

By Cathryn DozierBy Cathryn Dozier

Letter to ParentsLetter to Parents

Background Information Background Information Project-based learning is not a new Project-based learning is not a new educational method. The use of multimedia is educational method. The use of multimedia is a dynamic new form of communication. The a dynamic new form of communication. The merging of project-based learning and merging of project-based learning and multimedia represents an extraordinary multimedia represents an extraordinary teaching strategy that we call project-based teaching strategy that we call project-based multimedia learning. Guidelines for multimedia learning. Guidelines for implementing and developing your own units implementing and developing your own units based on this strategy.based on this strategy.

Imagine this……..Imagine this……..

You look for the teacher as you enter his classroom—he You look for the teacher as you enter his classroom—he isn't located at the front of the room. He is among a group isn't located at the front of the room. He is among a group of students. of students.

As you wait, you notice several groups. At the computers, As you wait, you notice several groups. At the computers, three boys are typing some text, another group of boys three boys are typing some text, another group of boys paints a colorful scene to be scanned, and a last group of paints a colorful scene to be scanned, and a last group of girls uses a Venn diagram. You want to ask them about girls uses a Venn diagram. You want to ask them about their work but can't bear to break their concentration.their work but can't bear to break their concentration.

Mr. Dozier notices you and starts toward you, but each Mr. Dozier notices you and starts toward you, but each group of students she passes stops her to proudly show group of students she passes stops her to proudly show off their work or ask her to check something. He reaches off their work or ask her to check something. He reaches you and explains the various activities the children are you and explains the various activities the children are working on to prepare their multimedia presentations. You working on to prepare their multimedia presentations. You talk for 8 minutes before you notice this….talk for 8 minutes before you notice this….the children are the children are all still workingall still working, still engrossed, still animated and , still engrossed, still animated and focused.focused.

Project-based learning is going on in Mr. Dozier’s room.Project-based learning is going on in Mr. Dozier’s room.

What is Project-Based What is Project-Based Learning?Learning?Definition:Definition: Project-based multimedia Project-based multimedia

learning is a method of learning is a method of teaching in which teaching in which students acquire new students acquire new knowledge and skills in knowledge and skills in the course of designing, the course of designing, planning, and producing planning, and producing a a multimedia productmultimedia product..

Multimedia: Multimedia: integration of integration of media objects such as media objects such as text, graphics, video, text, graphics, video, animation, and sound to animation, and sound to represent and convey represent and convey information Make information Make meaning from meaning from educational materials or educational materials or experience.experience.

Dimensions of Project-Based Dimensions of Project-Based LearningLearning Project-based multimedia learning Project-based multimedia learning

has seven key dimensions: core has seven key dimensions: core curriculum, real-world connection, curriculum, real-world connection, extended time frame, student extended time frame, student decision making, collaboration, decision making, collaboration, assessment, and multimedia. assessment, and multimedia.

A strong unit, however, includes A strong unit, however, includes them all.them all.

It's possible to have one of these It's possible to have one of these dimensions present.dimensions present.

Core CurriculumCore Curriculum

At the foundation of any At the foundation of any unit of this type is a clear unit of this type is a clear set of learning goals set of learning goals drawn from whatever drawn from whatever curriculum or set of curriculum or set of standards is in use. standards is in use.

Core emphasizes that Core emphasizes that project-based multimedia project-based multimedia learning should address learning should address the basic knowledge and the basic knowledge and skills all students are skills all students are expected to acquireexpected to acquire

These projects lend These projects lend themselves well to themselves well to multidisciplinary or cross-multidisciplinary or cross-curricular approaches.curricular approaches.

Core Curriculum

Multimedia Multidisciplinary

Real World ConnectionReal World Connection

o Real-world connection.Real-world connection. project-based multimedia project-based multimedia

learning strives to be reallearning strives to be realo Seeks to connect the world to students’ work Seeks to connect the world to students’ work o Types of activities, the types of products, or in other ways Types of activities, the types of products, or in other ways

(Content). (Content). o Perceive what is Perceive what is realreal about the project (Critical) about the project (Critical)

Extended Time FrameExtended Time Frame

o Good project (not a one-shot lesson) Good project (not a one-shot lesson) o Extends over a significant period of time.Extends over a significant period of time.o It may be days, weeks, or monthsIt may be days, weeks, or monthso May vary with the age of the students and the nature of May vary with the age of the students and the nature of

the projectthe projecto (Important) Students experience a succession of (Important) Students experience a succession of

challenges that culminates in a substantial final product challenges that culminates in a substantial final product from from

o They can derive pride and a clear sense of They can derive pride and a clear sense of accomplishment.accomplishment.

Student Decision MakingStudent Decision Making

o Project-based multimedia learning- students have Project-based multimedia learning- students have an opinionan opinion

o Divide them into “teacher's” and “students'” based Divide them into “teacher's” and “students'” based on a clear rationale (decisions) on a clear rationale (decisions)

o Example: A teacher might limit students to a single Example: A teacher might limit students to a single authoring program to minimize complicationsauthoring program to minimize complications

o The teacher can allow students to determine what The teacher can allow students to determine what substantive content would be included in their substantive content would be included in their projects. projects.

o Students can make decisions about the form and Students can make decisions about the form and content of their final products, as well as the content of their final products, as well as the process for producing them. process for producing them.

Collaboration and AssessmentCollaboration and Assessmento 3. Collaboration3. Collaboration

Working together jointly to Working together jointly to accomplish a common intellectual accomplish a common intellectual purpose. purpose. Students may work in pairs Students may work in pairs or in teams. Whole-class or in teams. Whole-class collaborations are also possible. The collaborations are also possible. The goal is for each student involved to goal is for each student involved to make a separate contribution to the make a separate contribution to the final work and for the whole to be final work and for the whole to be greater than the sum of the parts.greater than the sum of the parts.

o 4. Assessment4. Assessment     Developing expectationsDeveloping expectations     Improving the media productsImproving the media products Compiling and disseminating evidence of learningCompiling and disseminating evidence of learning

MultimediaMultimedia

students do not learn simply by “using” students do not learn simply by “using” multimedia produced by othersmultimedia produced by others

Learn by creating it themselvesLearn by creating it themselves Programs as HyperStudio, Kid Pix, and Programs as HyperStudio, Kid Pix, and

Netscape Composer-possible for students Netscape Composer-possible for students become the authors of multimedia content. become the authors of multimedia content.

Not only gathering only written notes, they Not only gathering only written notes, they but create pictures, video clips, recordings, but create pictures, video clips, recordings, and other media objects that will later serve and other media objects that will later serve as the raw material for their final productas the raw material for their final product

Why Use Project-Based Why Use Project-Based Learning?Learning?

Identifying, organizing, planning, and allocating time, Identifying, organizing, planning, and allocating time, money, materials, and workers.money, materials, and workers.

Negotiating, exercising leadership, working with diversity, Negotiating, exercising leadership, working with diversity, teaching others new skills, serving clients and customers, teaching others new skills, serving clients and customers, and participating as a team member.and participating as a team member.

Selecting technology, applying technology to a task, and Selecting technology, applying technology to a task, and maintaining and troubleshooting technology.maintaining and troubleshooting technology.

Why Use Project-Based Why Use Project-Based Learning?Learning?

SkillsSkills

Hard Hard math, reading, and math, reading, and problem-solving problem-solving skills mastered at a skills mastered at a much higher level much higher level than previously than previously expected of high expected of high school graduatesschool graduates

SoftSoft

Computer Computer Usage Usage

ability to work in ability to work in group and make group and make effective effective oral/writtenoral/written

presentationspresentations

Routine task such as Routine task such as word processingword processing

Summary Summary

Project-based multimedia learning is one Project-based multimedia learning is one instructional strategy that you can use in a school instructional strategy that you can use in a school year that may also include non-technical projects, year that may also include non-technical projects, lecture and note-taking, rote practice, writing, and lecture and note-taking, rote practice, writing, and artistic or creative work. artistic or creative work.

What they will be doing includes:What they will be doing includes: Planning and organizational skillsPlanning and organizational skills Learning to present information in compelling waysLearning to present information in compelling ways Synthesizing and analyzing complex content and Synthesizing and analyzing complex content and

datadata Practicing research and technical skillsPracticing research and technical skills Learning how academic subject matter applies to Learning how academic subject matter applies to

the real worldthe real world

Related URLs to PBLRelated URLs to PBL

http://http://www.edutopia.orgwww.edutopia.org/project-based-learning/project-based-learning

http://www.rmcdenver.com/useguihttp://www.rmcdenver.com/useguide/pbl.htmde/pbl.htm