The best schools are the ones that prepare students for life- work, interpersonal relationships, leadership, emotional and physical well-being. Today’s students will most probably have careers where they will be involved in multiple projects. So, it is rather important to design the curriculum in a way that prepares students for projects.
There are multiple benefits of an educational curriculum that you can find in project-based learning programs. Let’s look at a few:
- Engagement and interaction with content are much better and deeper for students as they get a more immersive experience in a project-based learning environment.
- Project-based Learning activities often happen in a team or include an element of presentation, encouraging students to work on their communication skills, team building and leadership skills, public speaking and confidence, and other social skills.
- An often overlooked benefit is that students learn to build a professional connection with their peers, mentors, and audience from the start making it a much easier task later in their professional life.
- Since students are an active part in designing their projects and learning outcomes, the sense of autonomy and responsibility develops faster and deeper. It also ensures that students know how to design their learning throughout their life for upskilling or re-skilling at any point in their life.
- Some important signs of emotional maturity and well-being are the capability to resolve conflicts, active listening and understanding, empathy, and desire to do better. When students participate in project-based learning ideas, especially group projects, they have a higher chance of developing these necessary skills for a healthy and well-balanced emotional life.
- This learning method encourages curiosity in students, they take action, find results on their own or fail and try again. This whole process of encouraging exploration and learning from mistakes empowers them to take and create better opportunities in future.
- Parents often worry about their kids’ assessments and results. When the assessment is done on a project, the teacher/facilitator gets multiple assessment points, aspects and a better understanding of the student as a person. The assessment in project-based learning programs is holistic and much deeper than traditional exams.
- Learning through projects as a method is very conscious and inclusive of different learning styles and needs of the students, making it a better learning experience all over.
Education should not be limited to the four walls of classrooms and as educators, it is our responsibility to create adults who are equipped with skills and resources to thrive in a constantly changing work environment, who are able to live a fulfilling life and be active contributors to society. Tapas, a 100% project-based learning school in South Bangalore, brings that vision to life.