Project-based Learning in Higher Education

1. Project-based Learning in Higher Education Elizabeth “Betsy” Lasley, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Language, Literacy and Special Populations Sam Houston State University

2. Purpose of this Presentation • Results of a fixed mixed-method pilot study of 82 undergraduate teacher candidates • Use of project-based learning to promote student engagement in critical thinking and intrinsic motivation. • The construction and implementation of project-based learning (PBL) in an undergraduate course. • Constructing the structural web for a PBL

3. Purpose of Study Critical Thinking & Motivation

4. Research Question: To what extent does project-based learning influence students’ levels of critical thinking, as measured by their changes in their levels of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation?

5. Theory and Motivation Constructs

8. Quantitative Descriptive Statistics Note. *p < .05 Quantitative Results

9. Qualitative Results The latent patterns that emerged were: • Movement and Change - stress, frustration, and confusion 30% • Critical thinking/metacognition - perspective-taking, sense of purpose 25% • Purpose – collaboration, continuous learning, self-determination, autonomy15% • Persistence – managing impulsivity, reflection and revisions, perseverance15% • Self-regulation - time management and organization (self-regulation - autonomy – 15%.

10. What do you know about project-based learning?

11. Key Differences

12. Why consider project-base learning?

13. Entering the 21st Century

15. Habits of Mind (Costa and Kallick, 2009) • Persisting • Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and • Precision* • Managing Impulsivity* • Gathering Data Through all Senses* • Listening with Understanding and Empathy* • Creating, Imagining and Innovation • Responding with Wonderment and Awe • Thinking Flexibly • Thinking about Thinking (Meta-cognition) • Taking Responsible Risks • Striving for Accuracy* • Finding Humor • Questioning and Posing Problems • Thinking Interdependently • Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations • Remaining Open to Continuous Learning

16. Course Structure

17. 8 Essentials for Project-based Learning • Driving question • A need/want to know • Significant content • Student voice and choice • 21st century skills • Inquiry and innovation • Feedback and revision • Public involvement

18. How can you use • this project to make • a difference in your • community? • 2. How can you • apply this project • to a real-world • situation? • How will this • project have a • personal impact • on you?

20. Problem Solving in the Context of Learning

21. Student insight regarding critical thinking!

22. Collaboration, Communication, Creativity

23. Students response to such an approach!

24. How can one begin to construct a PBL?

25. Let’s begin to plan a PBL!

26. 8 Essentials for Project-based Learning • Driving question • A need/want to know • Significant content • Student voice and choice • 21st century skills • Inquiry and innovation • Feedback and revision • Public involvement

27. How can you use • this project to make • a difference in your • community? • 2. How can you • apply this project • to a real-world • situation? • How will this • project have a • personal impact • on you?

28. Think with the end in mind! • What do students need to know from this course (objectives)? • How may students determine the relevance and purpose for what they are asked to learn (research, interview outside sources, connect to real-life, real world problems)? • How may the objectives correlate with student-directed research and integrated into multiple products or performances constructed over time for mastery (debates, cases, dilemmas, develop videos, journals, poster sessions, models, etc.. )? • How will the outside world (community) be involved during and after – guest speakers, evaluators, collaborators? • How may students develop self-directed and collaborative learning (voice and choice, group contracts, peer critiques, peer assessment, action plans)? • What will be the final product or performance that will demonstrate learning – celebration of learning?

29. Student Reflection – Sustainable Learning

30. Sustainable Learning

31. Questions

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