Project Based Learning

Tami Sickels

CO
IL

 Markham, T.  (2011).  Project Based Learning.  Teacher Librarian,  39(2),  38-42

This article is a great overview on project based learning.  It shows the difference between "doing a project" and project based learning or PBL.  This article states that knowing and doing have always been two separate things in teaching but PBL blends the two.  In PBL,  collaborative learning takes place just as in the real world.  These real world skills are assessed as the teacher(s) observe and measure the progress.  Markham also gives a good description of the seven principles used in PBL and how the whole process works.  Even though this method encourages students to learn to function in the real world, most schools do not use project based learning.  We, as teacher librarians, should promote the use of PBL in our schools. This article also offers the notion that we are moving forward with the idea of the group mind.  Markham offers the suggestion that to see this first hand you should visit the "mulit-level, multiplayer gamin sites on the web.  We are being challenged to move to a collaborative form of learning that will involve everyone, parents, students, and teachers.  This article is a very informative article on Project Based Learning and gives a couple of resources on critical thinking. I wish there would have been a little more information on resources where we could read more about PBL.