According to Jack Kinslow (assistant professor in the School of Education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania), project-based learning is:
Educationally sound, building on the underpinnings of educational philosophy and theory from Dewey, Vygotshy and Piaget. "this is not a pendulum swing to the left or to the right," Kinslow says. "Rather, it's students building on what they already know."
It meets the standards. A project-based approach helps students to learn across standard curricular lines and takes learning out of the box of rote memorization.
It makes learning much more relevant, and helps to build valuable critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
It builds strong ties between school, community, and parents.
Projected Outcomes of Project-based Learning
Students learn to take charge of their education by being actively involved by writing inquiries and planning the real-life project.
Students create a product or performance for an appropriate audience, showing what they know and what they are able to do with that knowledge.
Students reflect on their own work and that of others, giving and receiving constructive feedback, then making necessary revisions.
Assessment is authentic and ongoing, with attention given to learner characteristics and processes students go through. This results in a relevant evaluation that is in addition to a paper and pencil test.
Teachers let go of traditional practices, and instead explore, discover, problem-solve and reflect along with their students.
Teachers structure cooperative efforts and encourage students to become experts and help them see the usefulness of working with others toward success.
The project is long-term in nature and involves in-depth learning that addresses both the development of skills and the acquisition of knowledge and provides opportunities for higher-order thinking processes.
Project-based learning / performance assessment helps students:
Retain more of what's learned because of increased motivation and effort.
Become self-directed, independent learners, with increased self-management skills
Follow abilities, interests, learning styles and multiples intelligences
Build research and organizational skills
Develop social and communicative skills while working with others
Reflect on their own learning and the learning of others, while giving and receiving positive feedback
Develop and follow assessment criteria
Practice both peer and self-evaluation
EXCERPTS from: Focus Learning Through Projects, Projects Unlock Student Potential, by Mary Kay Shanley, Curriculum Administrator / October 1999, pp. 39, 41,