PROJECT TEACHING STRATEGY TEACHING

Definition 

“A project is any activity, individual or group, involving the investigation and solution of problems, planned and carried out to conclusion under the guidance of the teacher.”

-Callahan & Clark.

Features:  

•        It extends beyond classroom teaching.
•       The method is carried out in natural setting or real life situations.
•      This method involves investigation and solution to practical problems.
•      It demands and ensures active participation from the students. 
•       Involves effective interaction between the student and the social environment.
•       Creates an opportunity to acquire or practice social skills.
•       Enables the students to study functional aspects of the subjects learnt.
•       The teacher acts as a facilitator or a guide and thus promotes independent learning.

Principles of Project Strategy/method

1. Principle of Utility: the learned knowledge gained from the project is useful to learner.
2. Principle of Readiness: Learners choose the interested topic, so builds willingness and readiness to do the project.
3. Principle of Learning by Doing: Learners acquire knowledge by doing research by themselves, so learning becomes more realistic and memorable.   
4. Principle of Freedom at Work: The teacher acts only as a guide and facilitator in using this method of teaching. The students enjoy a high degree of freedom and it facilitates the emotional and intellectual development process in the learners. The learners learn to be accountable and responsible of their own obligations and develop a sense of belongingness to the work assigned.
5.  Principle of Socialization: Learner have direct contact with the social environment, they acquires   social skills necessary to adjust and live in a society. 

Types of Project Work.

•  Projects involving construction or production of a useful article/object to “embody some or      plan in external form”—Produce Type.
•  Projects providing opportunities for appreciation of some aesthetic experience—Consumer Type.
•  Projects involving study and investigation of practical situations/problems-Investigation Type.
•   Projects providing opportunities for mastery of certain skills—Drill Type

The Investigation Type of Project Work – Stages (Diana & L. Booth)

  Stage I: Classroom Planning

Step 1: Providing a set of tasks/problems for study

Step 2: Selecting a task/problem for study

Step 3: Formulation of hypothesis (for problems undertaken)

Step4: Planning/designing methods to investigate

Stage II: Execution

Step 1: Collection of data

Step 2: Organizing and interpreting data

Step 3: Review

Step III: Conclusion

Step 1: reporting and incorporating additions/deletions

Step 2: Evaluation

How to plan a project work?

A.   How to select topics?

       While selecting the topics for project work the following points should be considered:

•              The topic should be related to the syllabus content.
•             The topic should be appropriate to the class level.
•            The information on the topic should be available in the school and the community.
•          Students should be given a range of specific topics to choose from. 

•          The topic should enhance the application of the concept learnt in the classroom.

B.   What is the format for the project work write up?

The format for project work write up should include the following parts.

i.                    Title

ii.                  Table of contents

iii.                Introduction (what is the topic about? Why is it chosen?)

iv.                Method      -How is the information collected?

                              -How is the information sorted out?

                              -How is the information analyzed? 
     
v.                  Conclusion. 
  The conclusion should reflect the following:

a.       Summary of the findings
b.      Students’ experiences and opinion regarding the project work such as how he/she found the project    work (difficult, challenging), how it has been beneficial to his/her learning. 

vi.    Acknowledgement

• .       Recognition of the help received

vii.               References 
a.       List of the sources of information.

C. How to collect information?

i.                    know what information to collect
ii.                  identify possible sources of information (persons, places, books, etc.)
iii.                develop some questions to collect the information
iv.                plan field visits if any
v.                  keep notes of observations, interviews, readings
vi.                collect samples
vii.              make sketches, tables, graphs and diagrams related to the topic.

D.   How to compile information for presentation?

The students might collect lot of information. All the information may not be required and he/she should be able to sift and screen the information that is appropriate and relevant to the project topic. They should:
i.                    sort out and select the important information
ii.                  put the information order
iii.                use the information for writing the project work
The students should prepare the first draft and show it to the teacher. The students should incorporate the changes and comments recommended by the teacher. Then students should rewrite and present the final project work.

E.   Some Dos and DON’Ts

The students should follow the following instructions.

DOs

•  The project work should be written on a fullscap paper in the students’ own handwriting.
• Necessary illustrations should be drawn or sketched with pencil.
• The students can use simple colours.
• The project work should be written in students’ own words and not copied directly from the books except for quotes.

i.                 

DON’T

•             Use of pictures cut from books and magazines available in schools and photocopying should not be allowed.

•                        Students should not do unnecessary decorations of their project work using sketch and marker pens.
•                        Students should not decorate the cover page using glossy and colour paper.
•                        Students should not use folders and folders to enclose the project work.

F.   Lengths of the project work

      

       Class VI               -           150      to         300 words

       Class VII              -           250      to         400 words

       Class VIII             -           350      to         600 words

       Class IX                -           700      to         1000 words

       Class X                 -           1000    to         1500 words

How do you assess a project work?

A. Content (70 marks)

While assessing the content of the project work look at the following criteria.

1.          Is the information presented in the PW relevant to the topic? 
2.          Is the information presented in the PW accurate?
3.          Are the ideas presented in a logical order?
4.          Are the illustrations appropriate?
5.         Is the language used appropriate to the class level?
6.         Is the project written in student’s own handwriting? 
7.          Are there grammatical errors?
8.         Has the required information been included?
9.        Has the summing up or conclusion been done correctly?

B.   Presentation (10 marks)

• Is the PW presented neatly?
• Is the layout according to the given format?
• Is the writing legible?
• Is the PW written within the prescribed word limit?

C.        Process (20 marks)

• Is there a proper planning done for the PW?
• Is the PW carried out as per the plan?
• Are the sources of information authentic?
• Is the PW handed on time?