Project-Based Learning

How Project-Based Learning Builds 21st Century Skills

Project-Based Learning is a path teachers should start heading towards in order to help students learn to critically think, collaborate and communicate with peers, and incorporate creativity into their assignments. It seems pretty monotonous to teach a lesson and hand out a worksheet for students to practice their skills. Yes, that can be a way to teach but seems to get repetitive and, frankly, boring for students. I've been working with another colleague to create more project-based learning activities for our math students. Currently, we are learning about statistics and graphing. In the past two weeks I think I was asked about five times, "Are we going to use this ever?!" I realize students probably think this about a lot of things they learn in school, but we need to aim towards producing projects, assignments, and activities that allow students to learn in context of the real world. I am starting a statistics project with my students next week where they will have to analyze data, make predictions, work with their peers, evaluate peer work, and more. This will allow students to use their higher order thinking skills and work with their peers to gain 21st century skills.

Also, since technology has been on the rise and students are more into texting their friends who are in the same room instead of having an actual conversation, students need to learn how to effectively communicate and collaborate with their peers. Creating lessons and projects that center around these skills will only help our students in the future.