Project Based Learning
Task Based Learning is perceived as an alternative to traditional teaching. To make it crystal clear: PBL is based around the completion of ONE central project and the language studied there is determined by what happens while the students complete the project. It might last for a whole semester. According to many researchers task can be a real-life situation and in PBL's case it aims to reach the level of ultimate proficiency or said otherwise a native-like communication.
When we speak about PBL it is impossible not to mention PPP(Present Practice Produce). PPP is in fact the opposite of Task Based Learning and it is one of the approaches used broadly and with more loyalty than all the rest. In PPP, the teacher initially present the information or deals with the theoretical part of it. Then, together they deal with the exercises and at the last stage students try to produce language though they might not be successful.
PBL has 4 stages which I am going to explain through a simple example: Let's suppose you are trying to teach to your students some verbs and nouns related to traveling. First thing you do: You tell them that they will have a trip and they must plan it.
Pre-Task: You write the word TRAVEL on the blackboard and they have to say verbs and things that come in their mind about it. e.g. (voyage,ship,train,bus,walk,dessert,sea,beach,mountain,climb). Then you ask your students: What do you think you will see there? Draw a simple picture of a landscape (this is the real task and we are going to talk about the picture)
Task-Preparation: What can students draw on this picture? A lot of words related to travelling might spring up. While students are discussing the teacher checks for word order, N-V agreement, mispronunciations but does not correct them. Also this stage generates words that have to do with trains, buses, music, food etc.
Task-Realization: All the students in groups of 4-6 have come up with one picture. All picture are displayed in front of the class and the commenting begins.
Post-Task: The facilitator helps the students to express themselves. The students comment upon their own pictures and this makes them feel more comfortable with speaking and some practice of the target language occurs freely by part of students. The students have practiced the target language through a simple task. We might say that the aim of PBL has been completed.
With the hope that your understanding of PBL is helped by this post I am eager to read your comments. Feel free to comment!
The question in the beginning was enough to grasp my attention.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you have mentioned PPP in PBL.
Also those 4 stages.
Good job Kleo
I really liked how practical you made the post with the example you chose to share with us, and the fact that you included group work in your exercise as well. I must admit i disagree with the not correcting mistakes part though.
ReplyDeleteThe not-correcting part is only during this activity in order to avoid others being off-put. You know that I am a fan of correction.
DeleteYour post is not only well organized and informative,but very comprehensible and practical.I like the fact that you have not only explained what does this approach mean,but have also provided a good example,which explains better how to practically make use of this approach.Well done!!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post ans the way you arranged its structure. Starting the post with a question is the best way to grab ones attention. You jave mentioned PPP that is something very informative to us and our future as teachers. Thank you Kleant!
ReplyDeleteGood reflection on PBL method. U also gave some extra info on PPP, to be appreciated , but I would have preferred for u to have also mentioned assessment , since is an essential part of this method. All in all, the rest was more than enough .
ReplyDeleteGood job.
I like your post couse its interesting, well organized and has extra information about this topic. Well done!
ReplyDeleteYou brought me back at the moment when I was first introducet to PPP elements. You provided some good stategies to bare in mind before applying PBL approach, it was really helpful to me.
ReplyDeleteHow would you teach your students time managment skills?
ReplyDeleteSo that they do not work hardly on the last days of the semester if a project last a semester.
By doing mini tasks/projects they will learn how to manage time especially when they are put under a little bit of pressure.
DeleteI enjoyed reading your post.I found it really interesting.What I mostly liked about it was the fact that you had mentioned the 4 stages of PBL .THANK U Kleo
ReplyDeleteThe four stages is a really interesting part.I liked that very good 🙂
ReplyDeleteWell done . Well organized and based on real experiences .
ReplyDelete