This week I got an opportunity to learn in detail about Project Based Learning (PBL) and alternative assessment. There is an upcoming trend in India towards teaching through PBL. It has been incorporated in some of the state and central education boards’ syllabus. There are mixed responses. The common practice at the school level is that the topic is identified by the teacher and is assigned as home work for independent studies to the student. There is hardly any guidance given to the student during the preparation process. The parents are skeptical about the effectiveness of this approach since as per the current practice, they act as major support for their child for project preparation. Thus there is a huge gap between the theory and practice. I have proposed to prepare the final project following PBL to try to examine how this concept can be actually incorporated in teaching.
I prepared a
rubric on RubiStar on ‘Press report writing’ It was a tough job identifying the
areas of assessment and preparing the rubric. As part of the assignment
preparation I visited NCLRC website I found it extremely informative. There is
a possibility of getting the traditional tests either readymade online or in
the books and so it reduces teacher’s job. However, preparing checklist or
rubric could be much more interesting and desirable because such tools prove to
be a source of guidance for the students as well as teacher for achieving the
task related objective.
I did try to
access WebQuest for the purpose of preparing a lesson plan but I found it
tough. I think I will keep trying it and eventually might come up with a satisfactory
lesson plan.
Looking to
the topics learnt during the last five weeks I am sure that in the weeks to
come, I will certainly be more confident about using web skills for the purpose
of language teaching.
Kinnari
Hi Kinnari,
ReplyDeleteI have also had certain complications while creating My WebQuest.
I hope you will be satisfied with your project.
Indeed, there are numerous benefits for teachers that use project-based learning using technology.
For instance, it is designed and we are experiencing that right now so that the teacher is a learner, too.
The good thing is that project-based learning utilizing technology actively engages all students and encourages collaboration among students.
It is ancient history for us that teachers used to enjoy being the center of attention. Unfortunately,many teachers still believe that teaching is telling. Students in traditional classrooms are not encouraged to be autonomous, critical, and analytical thinkers. They do not learn how to problem solve, nor do they learn how to be risk takers.
All things considered I also think that our group, in the weeks to come, will certainly be more confident about using web skills for the purpose of language teaching.
Best regards,
Amela
Kinnari- Interesting to hear about the PBL stirrings in India. I think as in good PBL teaching, this kind of class choice should be bottom up, and not forced from the top down. I am a true believer in the possible benefits of PBL, but certainly do not think it is perfect for all teachers in all contexts. If I were in charge of policy I would expose people to ideas, then let teachers decide and innovate. But that happens too rarely in k-12, state mandated curriculums. -Robert
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