WeAreTeachers Blog

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Current research has shown that project-based learning helps improve science and math scores.  According to Learning.com, classrooms that incorporate project-based assignments and activities increase student interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) because they allow students to be involved in solving authentic problems, work with others and build real solutions.  Makes you want to start incorporating project-based learning into your lessons and assignments, doesn't it?  Here are the basics on how to get started.

1.  Don't do it alone.  Changing up your curriculum strategy is a lot of work—so don't do it without help.  Programs—like the Sky Digital Learning Environment allow teachers to integrate digital resources into their lesson plans, create and share lessons and activities with other teachers, design and differentiate units and lesson plans, track student progress and connect and collaborate with more than 130,000 teachers online.  Having a program that does that will allow you to focus on what really matters—your students.

2. Allow time for student reflection.  Don't just tell your students how to solve equations or problems, but allow them to reflect.  Put a problem into context and allow your students to reflect on and investigate a means to a solution.

3.  Let your students do the research.  Make sure you have the resources available for them to do some research and then allow them to gather the information they need to solve the problem.

4.  Help them to discover a solution.  Research has shown that when students learn in a hands-on and interactive manner, they learn more and understand better.  So, your goal as a teacher should never be to provide the solution—or to even explain the solution—but simply to give your students the tools they need to discover the solution themselves.

5.  Show them how to apply their knowledge.  STEM skills apply to many aspects of life—and when your students obtain important skills or gain understanding of essential concepts, it's important to help the bridge that knowledge and apply it to other subject areas.

6.  Communicate about their newfound understanding.  Finally, when students learn something through a project, they need the opportunity to discuss that knowledge and allow it to sink in.

Question for you:  How do you use project-based learning to enhance your student's science, technology, engineering and math skills?