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Project Based Learning at Northland Christian School |
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Project-based learning is a comprehensive instructional approach employed to engage students in sustained, cooperative investigation in which students collaborate to make sense of real-world problems all the while learning the essential concepts and standards in all of the
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disciplines. As opposed to memorization and regurgitation of essential knowledge, this type of instruction better prepares our students for what awaits them in college and the business world by teaching standards in a manner that incorporates the Twenty-first Century Skills. Additionally, Northland my be able to expand its enrollment possibilities since the nature of PBL allows those students who are not necessarily “word smart” (typically successful with language) or logic smart (usually successful in math and science) to use their individual gift areas in a more collaborative setting to produce various artifacts proving their learning in contrast to the typical written examination.
 Students pursue solutions to nontrivial problems by:
• asking and refining questions
• debating ideas
• making predictions
• designing plans and/or experiments
• collecting and analyzing data
• drawing conclusions
• communicating their ideas and findings to others
• asking new questions
• creating artifacts
There are two essential components of projects:
1. A driving question or problem that serves to organize and drive activities,
which taken as a whole amount to a meaningful project.
2. Culminating product(s) or multiple representations as a series of artifacts,
personal communication, or consequential task that meaningfully addresses
the driving question.
Benefits of Project Based Learning
Project Based Learning...
• accommodates different approaches to learning
• incorporates the purposeful use of technology
• immerses students in complex, real-world problems/investigations without
a predetermined solution
• draws on multiple disciplines to solve problems and deepen understanding
making content more meaningful
• develops higher-order cognitive skills, life skills, technological skills and
self-management skills
Students...
• are excited, engaged, enthusiastic and empowered about their learning
• dig more deeply into a topic and expand their interests
• retain what they learn
• make connections between different subject areas and other aspects of their life
• gain confidence and improve social and collaborative skills
Older Students...
• take initiative
• assume responsibility for their own learning
• make decisions and choices about their learning
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