Project Based Learning

If you don't know by now, I am a fan of Project Based Learning(PBL). However, it has to be for a real purpose and well linked to the curriculum. Students like well planned and organized PBL assignments. Where is the technology angle? It can be anywhere as long as the project is not about the technology, but includes the technology as an embedded part of the overall outcome. Technology is not going to make the project successful. It is a tool to help students when they are working on their projects. Here is a PBL assignment I have had in my head for a long time. I think its easy, engaging and involves just the right amount of technology for the one computer classroom.

OK, so here it is. Lets say that you are having students writing essays, poetry, short stories, etc. In the regular classroom these writings end up on the teachers desk, get marked, are handed back and then finally end up buried in a locker or in the trash. Now, let's put it all together in a PBL assignment.

In this case, the teacher tells the students that they are going to be writing for a purpose this year/semester. They will all be authors; published authors. This year they will write knowing that the best work will be published in an anthology. This book will be published and made available for sale. The teacher collects the works, maybe working with the students to create a theme, etc.

As the year or semester passes the works are collected. Students know the ending...the best get published. They have a reason to write. A real purpose. Finally the works are collected in a document. The teacher then creates the book on a site such as lulu.com and that's it. A real published book. What student does not want to be an author?

The idea is simple...The technology involved is simple...The results are real...

PBL Rules!