Project-Based Learning

A WebQuest for ECE Graduate Students

Designed by Mark Bailey

baileym@pacificu.edu

Introduction | Objective | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page

Introduction

Welcome ECE folks. At this learning center I have developed a webquest to introduce you to project-based learning. This is not designed to be an exhaustive quest, instead it was conceived of as chance for you to explore a webquest task while learning content about project-based learning.

Objective

By the end of their time at this center, students will be able to demonstrate a functional understanding of the project approach by outlining a project for the students in one placement.

Task

First, students will explore a number of websites containing information about the process of developing a project. Next they will examine websites that contain examples of student developed projects. Finally, based on this information, students will design a simple project that could be taught in one of their placement classrooms.

Process

  1. Please examine the following websites until you are familiar with the concept of project-based learning, and you understand the steps for constructing a new project.
    The Project Approach, Katz - http://www.ericdigests.org/1994/project.htm
    The Project Approach, Chard - http://www.project-approach.com/
    The ECAP Collaborative Project Page - http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/poptopics/project.html
    GLEF Project-based Learning - http://www.edutopia.org/modules/modarticle.php?id=art_860&mod=pbl
  2. Issues in Selecting Topics - http://www.ericdigests.org/1999-2/topics.htm
  3. Take a look at the following websites and explore a range of projects that others have developed. Pay particular attention to the details of the phases of a project and the key events that shape the framework around which these projects are structured..
    THe Little Park Project - http://www.project-approach.com/examples/park/Park_project.htm
    The boat Project - http://www.telusplanet.net/public/weighil1/
    A project on Worms -http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/sln/tf/w/worms/worms/worms.html
    The Pothole Project - http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/midlinc/pothole2.htm
  4. Take a moment to reflect on the content that you will be teaching in one of your placements as part of a worksample (or imagine what you would like to teach). Based on this material and using the yellow pads provided, outline a project that it is possible you could use in this placement.
    For more project examples see - http://www.project-approach.com/examples/projects.htm
  5. Take a few minutes and share your idea with one of your peers at the center. Ask them to use the rubric below to evaluate your outline.

Evaluation

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score

 

Essential Question or theme

 

 Question or theme is questionably engaging the students, is perfunctory, and allows no thematic integration Question or theme may engage the students, is somewhat narrow in focus, and allows minimal thematic integration Question or theme will engage the students, is open ended, and allows thematic integration Question or theme is highly engaging, is open ended, and allows significant thematic integration

 

Field work

 

 Work utilizes no primary sources, is based on receptive student learning, supports perfunctory representations of understanding Work utilizes few primary sources, allows active student learning, supports limited representations of understanding Work utilizes some primary sources, encourages active student learning, supports multiple representations of understanding Work utilizes primary sources, stresses active student learning, encourages multiple representations of understanding

 

Culminating Event

 

 Event does not fully support students' review and assessment of their work, and involves limited formats for presenting their understanding. Event is designed to help students assess their work and present their understanding to others. Event is designed to help students review and assess their work, present their understanding to others, and evaluate the process Event is designed to encourage students to review and assess their work, authentically present their understanding to others, carefully evaluate the process.

Conclusion

Before you leave this learning center, reflect for a moment on two things. First, what happened at this center that let you know what to do here and what was expected of you? Second, reflect on project-based learning and how projects might be utilized to support authentic cross-curricular learning at your two different placement levels. How would the nature of projects differ between the two levels? Finally, how do the projects that Chard and Katz describe, differ from collaborative projects?

Credits & References

Chard, S.C. (1998) The Project Approach: Developing the Basic Framework. Scholastic.

Chard, S.C. (1998) The Project Approach: Developing Curriculum with Children. Scholastic.

Chard, S.C. (2001) The Project Approach: Taking a Closer Look CD. Prospect CDs, ISBN# 0-9732165-0-6

Helm, Judy Harris (Ed.). (1996). The project approach catalog. Urbana, IL: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education.

Helm, Judy Harris (Ed.). (1998). The project approach catalog 2. Champaign, IL: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education.

Katz, Lilian G.; Chard, Sylvia C. (1989). Engaging Children's Minds: The Project Approach. Greenwich, CT: Ablex

This template downloaded from The WebQuest Page. Please go to the Design Patterns page if you would like to view the latest version of this template and training materials.

"We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL."

Last updated on (11/27/05). Based on a template from The WebQuest Page