К.п.н. Матухин Д.Л.

Томский политехнический университет, Россия

METHODOLOGICAL BASES OF PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

 

Project-based learning method emerged in the 1920s in the U.S. and was intended to find ways for the development of active, independent thinking of students, to teach them not only to memorize and reproduce knowledge but also to be able to apply them in practical activity.

The general principle which project-based learning method was based on is to establish direct relationship of educational material with the life experience of students in their joint active cognitive and creative activities in practice (projects) when solving a common problem. These days, project technology obtained new popularity and relevance.

Based on the concepts of learning technologies, E.S. Polat considers project-based learning methodology "as a combination of search and problem methods, creative by its nature, which is a didactic tool enhancing cognition, creativity and at the same time development of certain personal qualities of students in the process of creating a specific product" [1].

When using project-based learning technology in the educational process the following important problems can be solved:

·     lessons are not limited to the acquisition of certain knowledge and skills by the students but apply for practical activities of students, affecting their emotional state, thereby increasing motivation;

·     students are able to carry out creative work within the given topic, self-confidently searching for the necessary information not only in books but also in other sources. At the same time they learn to think for themselves, to find and to solve problems, predict outcomes and implications of different solutions, to study cause-effect relationships;

·     in project are successfully implemented various forms of educational activity, when students interact with each other and with the tutor, whose role is always changing: instead of a controller (s)he becomes an equal partner and consultant [2].

         The main requirements for the use of project-based learning method are as follows:

·     availability of the significant, in terms of research and  creativity, problem / task that requires integrated knowledge and research to find its solution;

·     practical, theoretical, cognitive significance of intended results;

·     self-learning activities;

·     structuring of the project content (with incremental results);

·     use of research methods: definition of the problem arising from it research problems, forming hypotheses of their solution, discussion of research methods, deliverables, data analysis, conclusions, correction, conclusions (use, within the joint study, of "brainstorming" method, "round table discussion", statistical methods, creative reports, views, etc) [3].Alpha

 

 

References:

1.        Полат Е.С. Метод проектов на уроках иностранного языка: Новые педагогические технологии при обучении иностранным языкам // Иностранные языки в школе. 2000. -№5. С. 24-28.

2.        Яковлева Н.О. Проектирование как педагогический феномен // Педагогика, 2002, №6. - с. 8- 14.

3.        Давыдова Е.М., Мещеряков Р.В., Шелупанов А.А. Проектное обучение – парадигма элитного инженерного образования в России в условиях стратегии инновационного развития // Высшее образование сегодня. 2006. - №7 - с.9-15.

4.        Changing perspectives in international education / Ed. By O’Meara P.,Mehlinger H., Newman R. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2001. 419 p.

5.        Eyerer P., Hefer B. and Krause B. The reformation of technical education through project-orientation education (TheuPrax) // Global J. Engng. Educ. 2000. Vol. 4. – №3. P. 281-286.

6.        Kjersdam F., Enemark, S. The Aalborg experiment project innovation in university education. Aalborg, Denmark: Aalborg University Press (1994)