Professional Documents
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A project is an idea or plan that is intended to be carried out. The dictionary meaning of a project
is that it is a scheme, design; a proposal of something intended or devised to be achieved.
Definitions on 'project':
Newman define that "a project typically has a distinct mission that it is designed to achieve and a
clear termination point, the achievement of the mission".
Gillinger defines project “as the whole complex of activities involved in using resources to gain
benefits”.
An assessment that takes place during a project or process, that conveys details such as what sub-
goals have been accomplished, what resources have been expended, what problems have been
encountered, and whether the project or process is expected to be completed on time and
within budget. Progress reports are used by management to determine whether changes are
necessary to an ongoing effort.
We live in a world where knowledge has become ubiquitous. It’s everywhere. The ever-growing
list of technologies that populate our world has made it easier than ever for people to consume
information that’s important to them. This shift in knowledge access is changing the way society
operates and, as a result, is forcing us to change the way we deliver education.
It’s no longer enough just to “know stuff” or to master the fundamental skills of reading and
writing. Of course, that’s still vitally important. But of equal importance is owning a set of
complex skills that go beyond straight facts – skills that are necessary to succeed in today’s
world – teamwork, critical thinking, communication, decision-making, etc. That’s the primary
benefit of project-based learning. It combines traditional classroom knowledge with real-world
expertise and skills to better prepare students for success.
Greater control over what and how they learn – Teachers set parameters for each
project and the students are free to propose their own ideas, pending their teacher’s
approval.
A sense of educational ownership – Because they have greater control over what and
how they learn, students often feel more invested and responsible for their work. Project-
based learning also makes it easier for students to learn at a pace that’s comfortable for
them.
An audience with their teachers – The traditional classroom lecture model is all about
listening. The teacher lectures and the students absorb. A key advantage of project-based
learning is that each student has more one-on-one time with their instructors to ask
questions and share ideas.
Project portfolios that go beyond paper – Whether it’s made up of videos, products,
photographs, multimedia presentations, books, gadgets or, yes, paper, project portfolios
are the end result of years of project-based learning. Students can easily show off their
hard work. And with tools like Project Foundry®, portfolios are maintained online and
can be securely distributed with the click of a button.
Insight into student motivators – With each new project that’s proposed and presented,
teachers receive a glimpse into the interests, passions and motivators of their students.
Everything about a given project – the topic that’s selected, how it’s presented, how
students works with others, where they pull their research from – gives teachers crucial
information about the learning habits of their class.
Going beyond the classroom – Another benefit of project-based learning is the ability to
draw in resources from the entire school and even the community. Learning is no longer
confined to the walls of the classroom, but rather is conducted on a more boundaryless
scale, giving teachers an even greater pool of assets to work with.
Other benefits of project-based learning:
Good for the parents, too – With tools like Project Foundry®, parents can see
information on their child’s educational progress that a traditional report card can’t
provide.
For more insight into the benefits and advantages of project based learning, we suggest a visit to
Edutopia’s "Why is project-based learning important?" The page includes a number of links
to research that’s been done on this very topic.