This paper covers various advantages to project-based learning (PBL). Some of these advantages include motivating students, interest in the topic, and enhanced understanding. They also discuss some of the challenges, such as issues with how the instructor can implement PBL.
There are a few key takeaways for this paper. PBL is an area worth pursuing. Given the challenges to instructors listed in the paper, creating a tool that will help address some of them could be beneficial. I could perform further research on this topic as this paper is 30 years old; therefore, some of the technology discussions may be dated.
Students' freedom to generate artifacts is critical, because it is through this process of generation that students construct their knowledge — the doing and the learning are inextricable. Artifacts are representations of the students' problem solutions that reflect emergent states of knowledge. Because artifacts are concrete and explicit (e.g., a model, report, videotape, or computer program) they can be shared and critiqued. - p. 372
To benefit from project-based instruction, students need to be cognitively engaged with subject matter over an extended period of time - p. 374
In doing projects, students need access to information and examples or representations that will help them t understand and use central ideas. They also need to use tool skills that are necessary to undertake the project. -p. 378
Finally they need to see errors and false steps as learning opportunities rather than as indicators of low ability. - p. 378
Technology and Students
Technology and Teachers
Technology helps Project Based Learning succeed when:
Instructors and Project Based Learning: