PBL in Science and Technology

 

This article and its links originally appeared on http://www.designworlds.com/techscape/Sherm_ArticleLinks.html

PBL IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
A CASE STUDY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Sherman Rosenfeld
and
Yehuda Ben-Hur
Department of Science Teaching
Weizmann Institute of Science
Rehovot, Israel

 

Project-Based Learning (PBL) is “a teaching and learning model that focuses on the central concepts and principals of a discipline, involves students in problem-solving and other meaningful tasks, allows students to work autonomously to construct their own learning, and culminates in realistic, student-generated products” (Thomas, et al., 1999).

Despite the educational potential of PBL, it is clear that without providing proper attention to teacher development and school change, actualizing this potential will remain a dream (e.g., Marx, et al., 1997).

Our case study focuses on one approach to the professional development of science and technology in regard to PBL. First, we present the rationale and goals of our approach. Next, we describe the context, population and methods of our case study.

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Integrating Content and PBL Skills: A Case Study of Teachers From Four Schools

This article and its links originally appeared on http://www.designworlds.com/techscape/Sherm_ArticleLinks.html

INTEGRATING CONTENT AND PBL SKILLS:
A CASE STUDY OF TEACHERS FROM FOUR SCHOOLS

Rosenfeld,S., Scherz, Z., Breiner, A. and Carmeli, M.
Department of Science Teaching
Weizmann Institute of Science
Rehovot, Israel

 

Background and Aims

One of the major challenges associated with project-based learning (PBL) is how to integrate the development of student PBL skills while developing student understanding of related disciplinary (or interdisciplinary) content. To investigate this issue, we conducted an action research study within the context of a long-term teacher in-service. Based on this study, we were able to better understand the nature of the challenge as well as successful strategies to meet it.

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