Project Based Learning

Click on title to link to one of the websites that focus on this method.

I was listening to the CBC this morning (or was that yesterday?).  There was a teacher from Port Alberni discussing a pilot program he has started for grade 9 students in one of the schools there.  It is the second year of the program.  Last year he had one class of 16 students and this year he has 2 classes of 25 or so.  It sounds like an amazing program.  During the observation period, I looked at the students and thought, "How unnatural to have youth learning this way in the classroom".  It seems to me that the classroom suits young children and over-twenties in many regards, but adolescents?  Adolescence is a time that young people are excited to be independent, learn skills that have practical applications, be social, and problem-solve.  At least that was the case for me.  I loved working and discussing ideas, but the structure of the classroom was to rigid for my powerful, dynamic adolescent energy.  Now projects!... Those I got excited about.  Projects are complex.  They take the social skills of working together and the cognitive skills of planning and calculations.  At the same time the students are active, engaged, feeling productive, and seeing real-life applications for the things they are learning.  The Port Alberni teacher teaches math, english, social studies, and science all in one project.  Last year the class built the school room they are using this year; it doubles as a dry room to dry their clothes after working outside.  Now that's a high school I would have been successful in...sign me up please!