Instructional Approaches

Project Based Learning -PBL-Online PBLWorks Online is a great site for ideas or resources when it comes to Project based learning. After signing up for free, you can easily filter what type of project you are looking for depending on subject! In a fine arts class, PBLWorks suggests that every student take on the role of a photojournalist to tell a story about their community in order to embed project based learning into the classroom. The Community Photojournalist project would be a great way for students to engage with their community while learning and experimenting with photography and the ways that images can tell stories. Students would have to set up and plan their images, and use their creativity to create interesting images. They could use interviews and photos together to visually document local cultural and social stories. There is a great opportunity for this art project to become cross-curricular with English as students could write up summaries of interviews or background information on their topic. The finished project could be shared with the community through a digital exhibition or shown live at a community or school meeting or assembly.

Problem Based Learning -This type of learning invites students to think about problems at the start of a topic and develop skills around finding information and solutions. Students are asked to identify what they need to learn and where they should go to find information. The teacher provides the educational materials and guidance to help facilitate the learning. Amber Carney is a grade 2 teacher who has created a graphic organizer so her students can better understand their math problem at hand. Amber does not reveal the topic but types out the problem for her students and they begin to create a strategy that will help them solve the problem. Using Problem Based Learning with Math Lessons is a video that shows Amber going through this process in her class. Students start out trying their strategy independently before discussing with their partner. Partners will then come up and describe their problem solving strategy to the class.

Design Thinking -PBSKids.org has a variety of design challenges for students where they can focus on using simple materials and designing something real to solve a problem. For example, Build | Hovercraft . DESIGN SQUAD GLOBAL shows students designing a hovercraft. Use in the junior classroom - This could be tied into many topics in the classroom, and different subjects. In math class, students could do the calculations necessary to make the hoverboard work, then measure and design it before creating the hoverboard. In science, this design could be tied into a unit on air or environment.

These instructional approaches to education are important to incorporate into a junior classroom because they allow students to learn in a variety of ways and develop a variety of skills. Through problem, project, and design based learning, students think creatively to find solutions while learning. Instead of being lectured to and asked to memorize content, students are encouraged to think independently, and to learn those same concepts for themselves through a hands-on activity. One of my personal favourite instructional approaches is project based learning because there is room for differentiation. For instance, if a student is highly skilled in the subject at hand, the teacher can encourage that student to develop a more complex project, or point them toward resources that are of a higher level. While a student who needs more assistance in that subject would still be able to create something they are proud of and develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills even if it is not as complex of a project. I also have a soft spot for project based learning because students often work well when they are focussed on something they are personally interested in. These types of projects allow teachers to check in and discuss progress with students throughout the project which means teachers can mark the process as well as the project.