The research is clear on the goodness in education when students conduct Project-Based Learning, The learning becomes authentic, rigorous and sticks with them beyond any “testing”. So, why is PBL not done more in our schools? They’re hard, until teachers are developed on them, and have the time and support to get into the groove.
With that said, High Tech High is also starting to unfold what I believe is another dimension to PBL. Engrained throughout almost all of their PBL’s is IT, by the students, by the teachers. Not just portfolios, but digital portfolios. Not just web sites put together by students, but bona fide, marvelous presences on the web. Complete with rich, media literacy, blogs for student reflection, interactivity for users, etc..
It is clear that the world we live in and the world these students will produce in, will be dominated by projects. Schedules and deliverables - is there something else out there? It’s called production. Why not do it with the skills and tools these students will use to compete?
PBL’s are a “good thing”, and when done with IT, they bring out 21st century rigor and relevance, as iPBL
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