1. Teaching from the textbook, lectures, discussions, and readings are the paradigm that is showing signs of wear. Students aren't just learning from the knowledge of the teacher anymore. They are learning from project based research and curricula, as well as, performance-based assessment. Students are working together within the class to address open-ended and complex questions. Teachers are taught to be more of a coach than a teacher. They are there to guide students to learn on their own.
2. Project-based learning involves students completing tasks that require them to make a realistic product, event, or present to an audience. The five key components that Thomas (2000) identifies are: central to the curriculum, organized around driving questions that lead to students to encounter central concepts or principles, focused on a constructive investigation that involves inquiry and knowledge building, student driven, and authentic focusing on problems that occur in real world and people care about. For example, Shepherd (1998) studied the results of a unit in which a group of fourth and fifth graders completed a nine-week project to define and find solutions related to housing shortages in several countries. This increased their confidence and helped them think more critically. The second study followed two British school systems over the course of three years. Boaler (1997, 1998) studied two different schools, one was a traditional learning community and the other was a project based one. It resulted with the project based school did better on a National exam with conceptual knowledge questions than the traditional school setting. Project based approaches also help advance students in their use with technology.
3. Problem based learning is meant to teach students to think. During a problem based learning activity, students work together to solve a problem with a solution that they developed. The students come up with the strategy, evaluate it, and then construct a new strategy if needed. Most of the times these are real world situations and can have multiple solutions. Problem based learning is a great way for prospective teachers to learn to apply theory to specific school context and resolve problems within the classroom. Through problem based learning, teachers can practice other alternatives to their own practices. Also, studies have showed that problem based learning is comparable to more traditional instruction in facilitating factual learning. Students who participate in problem-based experiences are also thought to be able to better generate more accurate hypotheses and coherent explanations than those in a traditional learning setting.
4. Learning through Design means that students are learning through building their own artifact that requires understanding and application of knowledge. In these activities, students create and assess their own artifact. Students will collaborate and be designated different roles to play in the creation of their artifact. This type of project allows feedback, and requires a great deal of thought and research. This project can allow students to encounter trial and error. Students can require understanding of complex systems.
5. There isn't much of a difference between the three approaches. They are all focused on the students teaching themselves and just letting the teacher guide them instead of the teaching lecturing them on facts.
6. If I had to pick one, I think I would chose the project solving approach. I think this one gives them a little more creativity than the other two.
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