PBL Article

This article was one of the best articles that I have read in this class so far. I was confused about the project-based learning activity and this article was able to clear the confusion for me. The author starts of by defining project based learning. Jones (2007) defines project-based learning as “the in-depth investigation of a real world topic that will motivate students to explore and learn.” She continues to explain in her article how to help your staff to become more comfortable with integrating the project-based learning idea into the curriculum. Her first suggestion was give the teachers time to become familiar with the standards and become comfortable with them.
Jones then gives suggestions on how to choose a project. She suggests that four primary questions must be answered to determine if a topic will make a good project-based learning. She continues to give examples of ideas that would not make a good topic and things that would make a good topic. She reemphasizes that standards must be met, but that teachers can meet the standards indirectly by project-based learning activities. However, it is up to the teacher to create a web to identify if there is enough information to develop the project. Then it is up to the students to drive the project by developing questions and generate ideas to answer those questions. All the steps seemed overwhelming to me at first, but after reading this article I feel that this is something I would like to implement in my classroom.
Jones, R. (2007). Project-Based Learning and Early Learning Standards:
Making the Connection. Exchange: The Early Childhood Leaders'
Magazine Since 1978, (174), 8-11. Retrieved from ERIC database.