Double Journal Entry #15

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1. Give an example of an authentic form of assessment the students engaged in a PBL performed well on?

In one study, students applied the concepts of geometry to architecture and submit designs for a new playhouse for a community center. 84% were judged to be accurate enough to build. Students were able to revise their designs after consulting resources. These students demonstrated a solid grasp of the concepts and were able to perform well on traditional tests.

2. How does project based learning promote intrinsic motivation?

Students will often reach higher and attempt to read more challenging material to find the information they are seeking. The differentiation allows students to develop their own interetss and pursue deeper learning. They are able to soar and learn at their own levels.

3. What do students who experience PBL do better than students who receive traditional direct instruction?

Students who are exposed to PBL have better problem solving skills,  are able to critically evaluate their peers, and have better 21st century skills.

4.  How does PBL align with John Dewey's philosophy of education?

Dewey proposed that learning by doing has great benefit in shaping students' learning. In PBL students are constructing knowledge and building on their background knowledge. They retain more information when they learn by doing.

5. Why do our assessment practices need to change if we are going to prepare students for the 21st century?

In the future, children must enter a workforce in which they will be judged on their performance. They will be evaluated on more than pencil/paper work. They will be evaluated not only on their outcomes, but also on their collaborative, negotiating, planning, and organizational skills, which can't be learned by the traditional education system. By implementing PBL, we are preparing our students to meet the twenty-first century with preparedness and a repertoire of skills they can use successfully.