Please consider the following:

Note that the posts you find herein need edition. They are not finalized. They do still need some correction. I am more concered with doing the tasks for the moment being. These should be finalized soon. Thank you for understanding.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

PBL & Webquest: What relation?



Problem-based learning (PBL)

Project-Based Learning's philosophy to learning is to involve the learners into real-life experiences rather than learning sets of rules. It aims at making students "work in groups to solve challenging problems that are authentic, curriculum-based, and often interdisciplinary" (McGrath, 2003) and a good PBL activity is the one that targets different learning styles. Many scholars have stressed that it boasts learning and a variety of “skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking and cooperative learning” (ATESL).

Sun Associates states that a classic PBL activity involves four elements:

· an extended time frame

· collaboration

· inquiry, investigation, and research

· the construction of an artifact or performance of a consequential task.

In reflection on her experience, Susan Gaer deduces that there are three major helping factors to PBL activity success:

· The project must be geared to the population.

· The students must see value in a project.

· Flexible timeliness is necessary.

Stoller (1997) and Sheppard and Stoller (1995) suggest that the implementation of a PBL should follow the following steps:

1. the students and instructor agree on a theme for the project,

2. the students and instructor determine the final outcome of the project,

3. the students and instructor structure the project,

4. the instructor prepares students for the demands of information gathering,

5. the students gather information,

6. the instructor prepares students for the demands of compiling and analyzing data,

7. the students compile and analyze information,

8. the instructor prepares students for the language demands of conducting the activity,

9. the students present the final product, and

10. the students evaluate the project.

webQuest

WebQuest is defined by Professor Bernie Dodge of San Diego State University as “an inquiry-oriented activity that uses resources on the World Wide Web. WebQuests pull together the most effective instructional practices into one integrated student activity. These Web-based projects use World Wide Web sites to help students develop problem-solving and decision-making skills.” It is considered as being motivating to both teachers and students. As problem-based learning does, it boasts critical thinking, problem solving and creativity skills. Prof. Bernie Dodge differentiates between two kinds of webQuests: short term and long term each of which has particular characteristics. He also states that there are six components for every webquest: 1. introduction, 2. task,3. process,4. evaluation, 5. conclusion and 6. teacher page. Thirteen ed online has also set six components as former ones, but with a slight difference.

To convince teachers, Prof. Bernie Dodge explains that webquests deserve the trouble. He highlights its benefits as a teaching tool and suggests practical techniques to integrate it teaching effectively.

Therefore, joining Project-Based Learning and WebQuest is not done at random. Both of them aim at developing the same skills: problem solving, creativity and critical thinking. Moreover, webquest would be one great resource to do a problem-based activity. In my context where we suffer from the scarcity of resource materials, for instance, it would be ideal source of information for students and teachers all together to rely on while doing a project.


PBL: Students autonomy & teacher-student rapport

Project-Based Learning including webQuests help students gain and develop their autonomy effectively. It prepares them for the future by getting them exposed to situations and experiences in which they train themselves in problem solving, critical thinking, decision making and creativity. While performing their projects, the learners have to look for specific information and evaluate its relevance to their topics. WebQuests is an interesting source of authentic information that is for free or at low costs. They have to use the information, techniques and methods and so on to carry their projects successfully. A project-based activity should set clear objectives and tasks for the students to perform. The role of the teacher should be limited to orientation and guidance. All the work should be done by the students individually or collaboratively depending on the nature of the task. Facing problems with a limited interference of the teacher help the learners build competencies and skills that would enable them lead successful lives.

Project-Based Learning affects the teacher-student relationship positively. PBL activities are motivational for both teachers and students. This makes both of them work cooperatively and collaboratively in a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere. The learners would admire their teacher because he/she involves them in decision making especially in choosing topics, forming groups and suggesting ways to perform tasks. PBL is an excellent method that helps the teachers respond to their students needs and make them the centre of the whole activity. The learners would appreciate their teachers work and method and feel proud seeing their final products being done and finalised by them. The teacher would also be happy to see the good outcomes of his students efforts, because it has always been proven that learners learn a lot and do well in PBL acticities.


No comments:

Post a Comment