Post #5

The most significant fact about Project Based Learning from the videos presented by Dr. Strange is that PBL students can become immensely more involved in their work given the freedoms they are given to complete them. First, as I have learned as an English student, it is always important to give thought to what audience you are presenting to. By requiring the students to share their work with more than just the teacher, they become more concerned about what they are creating. Also, through Project Based Learning, the children are given more freedom on what they work on. When the students are able to make their own choices on how to approach their tasks or are able to support a personal opinion of their own they become much more invested in the project because it is more personal for them. Last, I really found it interesting and believe it is incredibly beneficial for the students to work together and have in class critiques where every student is involved in meaningful discussion.

I also learned from these videos about how well third grade students are doing in Project Based Learning versus college level students, and I would like to make some points to defend college level EDM310 students after my viewing. One factor that needs to be taken into account is that most of these students learned the "old fasioned way," using text books and pen and paper. Some, like myself, have not been seeking out new technology and ways to use it for years whereas these children have grown up in this much more advanced technological age and are quite fluent in it already. Also, adult students at this stage have much more on their plates at this point in their lives. These include commitments such as other classes, work, family, money, and many other responsibilities that come with adult life. This is especially true for older, returning students! The students in this class and teachers do need to learn and expand and work hard to do this or not be in this class or profession. However, as reported in the video, Project Based Learning Part 1: Experiences of a 3rd Grade Teacher, we are at least managing to achieve the same as the nine year old children, some just as good, some just as bad, and not 100% completion on either side. So, please give us some thought and quit picking on us Dr. Strange!