In July 2020, the Union Cabinet of India approved the National Education Policy (NEP) designed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The NEP has been lauded for bringing the much-awaited education reforms to cater to the needs of the 21st Century students. The Policy envisions imparting 21st Century skills and employability skills amongst the students and particularly focuses on the aspects of creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving for the holistic development of a child.
The NEP 2020 has set the path to revolutionize learning in India. And to implement the education policy for ‘New India’, Project-Based Learning is one of the many strategies that has been emphasized by the MHRD.
What is Project-Based Learning?
The Buck Institute of Education defines Project-Based Learning as a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge.
In this learning strategy, students work on a project for a dedicated period of time that engages them in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question. They demonstrate their knowledge and skills by creating a product or presentation for a real audience, such as their classmates, schoolmates, or their community. As a result, students develop deep content knowledge as well as get an opportunity to apply that knowledge to solve real-world problems. Project-Based Learning unleashes contagious, creative energy both amongst students and teachers.
The Gold Standard PBL
Gold Standard PBL is an all-inclusive, research-based model for PBL to help teachers and schools measure, regulate, and improve their practice. In Gold Standard PBL, projects are focused on students’ acquiring key knowledge, attitudes and mindsets, and relevant skills.
The Gold Standard PBL’s framework consists of 7 key elements to help ensure that the project design and implementation are in tune with the desired objectives. An important component of the framework is Reflection. By including the step of reflection in the project design, teachers can ensure that students are examining and introspecting on what they are learning, how they are learning, and why they are learning. Reflection also enables students to take corrective actions in their projects as they move forward.
How PBL helps kids solve real-world problems
Since PBL uses examples of problems that people face in everyday professional and personal life, students learn the hard and soft skills needed for navigating such challenges. PBL encourages leadership skills amongst students, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. Projects can focus on any issue that’s important to the student or the community, such as protecting endangered species, feeding the hungry, or spreading awareness on gender equality. Through this, PBL creates an opportunity to put kids in direct contact with their community and the larger world, and connect “real world” needs with student work.
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