The present time is not just a rat race but a relentless competition and new challenges every day.
In this challenging environment, the old-fashioned model of snatching is becoming increasingly fragile to prepare students for the new age world of complex puzzles with insignificant skills and abilities.
When we talk about building a generation that is flexible, intelligent and future-ready, education is a basic need. The epidemic has brought an ‘unexpected energy event’ and launched a new orbit for the digital revolution. Technology is disrupting and reshaping the landscape, both personal and professional, at a bizarre pace. In order to equip students with the tools of current development, the curriculum needs to be adapted accordingly.
What is Project-Based Learning (PBL)?
In contrast to conventional methods of teaching, project-based learning is a collective and applied concept. It uses real-world situations as a vehicle to accelerate rich learning and research attitudes, as well as blending academic topics across programs and curricula.
These projects differ from routine, short-term projects that are attempted after a specific topic or topic has been completed. These projects are used as a tool to revise the subject sections. In fact, these projects drive the basic structure of the curriculum and program modules. With PBL (Project Based Learning), students can use any of the additional resources available for research – art inspection, presentation, exploration of different materials, creation of work models and many other experiments.
Students take on a project for a period of time that can be extended depending on the subject and subject matter. It can even range up to a full semester to work out and find innovative solutions to complex or real-world problems. Skills education is demonstrated through a report or presentation or a prototype at the end of the project cycle.
Impact of project based learning
This method of learning is useful for both knowledge level and skill of the subject. Skills include communication, creativity, team building, problem solving, critical analysis.
Project-based learning approaches students to be independent workers, critical thinkers. It pushes students to create their own questions while creating a sense of ownership of the process and its results.
Industry-Academia Integration
Connecting real-world problems with educators is one of the significant benefits of a project-based learning approach. It forces students to learn from tests and errors and to complete their perceptions and logical reasoning.
Connecting real-world situations with educators is one of the biggest benefits of project-based learning, forcing students to learn from trials and errors and to succeed based on their explanations and logical decisions. This prepares them for the professional world because these are the approaches they will use in their workplace sooner or later in the future.
Furthermore, since these projects can be large and complex, students must work in groups or teams. It inspires even the quietest person to talk, to work with other team members to stay on the same page. This not only has a positive effect on their soft skills but also introduces them to the real world. A project inherently brings design thinking and transdisciplinary learning and consequently contributes to the overall development of the student.
Modern day jobs and their requirements for skilled workers push for change from old school teaching methods. The project-based learning method is what was needed to transition from the old school learning method. It mimics real-world problems and establishes a balanced and distinct perspective, preparing students for continuous progress as an individual as well as a team player. PBL is a win-win proposition because the student is confident when moving from campus to corporate and the corporate is delighted when it comes to getting industry-ready resources.
Inclusion of project based education in education
Project-based learning adequately bridges the gap between abstract and practical or theoretical and practical learning, developing real knowledge, initiative and advanced knowledge of the subject.
With the rise of technology and its representation in all spheres of life, the transition to a more technically correct and practical approach to education should not only be welcomed but should take time and be well supported by educators at all levels.
The model is already being integrated at the undergraduate level, where students must work on a Capstone project at the end of the program and then grade accordingly.
And the best part is that students will eventually graduate with a portfolio rather than a simple resume.