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PROJCECT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION MEANING OF PROJECT:

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”.

According to Encyclopedia of Management, "a project is an organized unit dedicated to the


attainment of a goal- the successful completion of a development project
on time, within budget, in conformance with pre-determined programme specifications". Now, a
project can be defined as a scientifically evolved work

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.

Why Project-Based Learning?

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.

Benefits of project-based learning for students:

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.

Acquisition of complex, real-world skills – Project-based learning teaches students


about teamwork, critical thinking, communication, decision-making, time management,
public speaking, organization, social behavior and more.

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.

Hands-on, “fun” learning – Project-based learning requires a level of participation not


seen in the traditional classroom, giving students a higher level of stimulation and a
greater role in the educational process.

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.

Benefits of project-based learning for teachers:

Greater student interaction – Traditional classroom learning involves a teacher more or


less speaking to his or her students with little interaction other than to ask or answer a
periodic question. Project-based learning puts the teacher into more of a facilitator role
that allows for greater dialogue with each individual student.

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.

No longer an army of one – The assessment process in a project-based learning setting


usually involves more than just the opinion of the teacher and often times includes other
instructors and even peers of the student. Project Foundry’s® intuitive, web-based
project-management tool gives teachers an easy way to manage all of that feedback so
that it can be best absorbed by them and their students.

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:

Administrators see results – With the ever-increasing pressure to raise performance


standards in school, PBL helps to engage students’ intrinsic motivation to learn and, in
turn, increase performance. School leaders are also able to tout curriculums that
incorporate school-wide 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.

Community involvement – As we mentioned above, because PBL often takes students


outside of the classroom, a school’s surrounding community quickly becomes an
educational resource. Community leaders and places of interest can be tremendous
resources for various student projects, and can also be beneficiaries of student work.

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.

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