Rote vs. Project Based Learning. The Battle.

“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” 
― Aristotle,

I am very interested in this whole idea of Motivated Learning. I think that to be motivated and to be engaged and to be learning all go hand in hand. What’s the point of teaching something to our students if they will forget it a week later? Did we truly teach them? Did we do them any sort of life favor by getting through the curriculum 100 lectures later while they memorize facts and dates that have no application or relevance or interest? I think motivation and excitement about a topic are a gateway to the deeper critical thinking where true learning occurs.  I am excited to dig deeper and learn more about Project Based Learning.  From what I have gathered it uses this idea of learning through criticial thinking and problem solving.  Students work together to solve a problem and are thus learning together. It seems to be used as an alternative to rote memorization and lecturing that is so often used in the classroom but is only so helpful.  Research has proven time and again that rote memorization learning sticks but generally only for a short time.  Isn't the goal of teaching to teach your students information that they can keep and use then as lifelong wisdom and knowledge as they journey through their individual lives? These are such basic and essential real world tools for students, the idea of cooperation, collaboration, connecting, and problem solving to name a few.

Learning through working together is an absolutely critical life tool.  Almost no matter what you do you have to be able to communicate and collaborate with others.  “Two heads are better than one” is so cliché but so true.  By thinking and learning with other you are able to make more connections that are related to their age, interests, previous knowledge, etc.  By working with others you are not only learning the content but how to be a part of a team in general. As I mentioned before it’s a critical life tool. By working through problems together I think it also makes the learning more meaningful.  If they are problem solving things within their own community it is more meaningful to them.  If they are learning something as a gateway into another project or something else that will excite them it is more meaningful.

            I am very excited to learn more about this.  I want to learn how to incorporate this in multiple subjects.  I want to hear input from other teachers who have used this.  Was it successful for them? Did the students enjoy it? Did they gain the intended learning?  Were they excited and engaged? Did they go beyond expectations? Do they have to be real world problems? Can they be made up problems to incorporate information? I am hopeful about the success of this but also have an open mind in regards to project based learning.