When you hear someone mention project-based learning, you may think "I do that. I do projects in my class.". I know I did! However, there is a big difference between just doing projects and the PBL model. It all comes down to the structure and roll-out of the model. In the traditional model, we may do a project after a test or right before. The students are supposed to know the content to do the project, right?
Well, if we flip the script and start the unit out with the project, students are more engaged and enthused to learn the content so that they can complete the project. This also causes them to retain the information because they WANT to apply it to the real-life project that will make a difference. I mention "real-life" because that is another difference from just a project to PBL. In PBL all of the projects are based on real-life problems or needs. The students feel a sense of purpose when completing the project because they know that it can provide a real impact to their community, school, etc.. Another crucial element of PBL is giving students the opportunity to present their project in an environment outside the classroom to an audience that their project will impact.
We want to turn our learners into autodidacts. This means that they will drive their own learning. Students who are not motivated are not going to drive their own learning. They have to be told what to do, when to do it, and your lucky if they put in 100% into it. However, if we give them a scenario to motivate them, they will quickly become their own captain in their learning.
The video below gives a great explanation of this. (Magnify Learning, 2020)
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Magnify Learning. (2020). What is the difference between Project Based Learning and a project? | PBL Simplified [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P63m14iB6OI&t=308s
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