Chapter 1 Reflection: "The Big Picture"

All this talk of "Project Based Learning" has got me thinking about my own experiences in middle and high school.  I must agree with the words of Mr. McDowell, who confesses his greatest high school recollection to be slicing open a dead frog.  I too can remember back to that day in middle school...the anticipation had built for weeks, knowing that soon we would be embarking on a new and exciting journey: that journey into the body cavity of a cold blooded creature, born and raised for the sole purpose of being humanely murdered and shipped to a classroom full of eager pre-teens, all adequately armed with scalpels.

In all seriousness, though, it was a great project, and to this day, I guarantee that I could successfully dissect the eyeball of any animal and correctly locate the lens.  These are the things that students remember: the gross projects and thrilling field trips.  Learning through doing, not listening to an educator drone for an hour over a subject that none can truly relate to, because none have ever had the chance to experience it for themselves.

One of the most exciting aspects of project based learning, is the idea of students taking control of their learning, and getting motivated to seek out their own questions and answers regarding the subject at hand.  No longer are teachers hailed as the all-knowing gurus in the classroom and requested at the slightest hint of misunderstanding.  Rather, teachers are there to help guide students in their learning through projects designed specifically to nurture the learning of the class.   The goal of project based learning is not that students be able to memorize and repeat definitions and theories spelled out in a textbook.  If they go away from a lesson remembering exactly how fat an armadillo can get in its lifespan, that's excellent! (120 lbs., by the way)  In the bigger scope, however, it's more important that students know how to find that information should they require it in the future. (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/armadillo/)

Another aspect of project based learning that I really like, is the fact that students are doing actual investigative work.  How excellent would it be for a class of seventh graders to spend an entire semester drawing water samples from a local swamp to test the levels of mercury found.  All of the subject areas would inevitably be addressed: reading and writing test results, as well as consulting books and research; mapping out locations to perform experiments; communicating with peers while gathering and deciphering data...the list could go on...  This type of learning does not occur when students are stuck behind a desk shoving pencils up their nose.

In short, I think project based learning is a great way to let students experience learning rather than having to endure it.  I especially like the idea of learning being seen as "participatory, collaborative, and creative".  We don't live on the prairie anymore...it's time to start teaching students to take control of their own learning!