Research On Project-based Learning

At present, the field of education has undergone profound changes. New educational ideas, instructional methods, measures, and media are emerging one after another. The expanded scope of educational resources has led to a need for new instructional model in education.This thesis aims at exploring such a new model------"Project-based learning"(PBL). Basedon the literature home and abroad, the author investigates PBL model systematically, examines its basic concepts and rationale, discusses the possibility of integrating ICT (information communication technology) with Chinese practice, and designs a feasible PBL case.In chapter one, the thesis defines "Project" as product-making tasks including many problems which are interrelated and must be solved within given time by means of various resources. In section one, based on the comparison on three definitions in foreign coutries and two definitions in our country, the thesis presented the definition of "Project-based learning" (PBL). Project-based learning (PBL) is an innovative model for teaching and learning. It is intended to produce and sell products to clients. According to this mode, learning occurs in virtue of many resources and it needs students to explore in real world. There are some learning tasks which are interrelated and must be solved within given time. In section two, the thesis puts forward that "Project-based learning"(PBL) includes three core ideas: Constructivism, Pragmatism and J.S.Bruner's Discovering theory. In section three, this article describes four elements of PBL: content, activities, situations and results. In section four, the thesis analyses several features of PBL as follows: (1) it has a driving problem;(2) there is a final product;(3) the knowledge needed interdisciplinary;(4) it emphasizes on cooperation; (5) learning can result in some social benefits;(6) it needs inquiry in real world;(7) it needs many cognitive tools and information resources. In the following section, this article covers several superiorities of PBL. They are listed as follows: (1) PBL can cultivate students autonomy; (2) PBL emphasizes that the knowledge is interdisciplinary^^) it emphasizes that learning should be connected with real life; (4) PBL is in favor of fostering cooperation; (5) PBL is in favor of fostering innovation;(6) PBL is in favor of fostering problem solving; (7) PBL can promote students to master the techniques of learning. In section six, the thesis narrates the proceeding of PBL in detail. (1) selecting project;(2) making a program; (3) inquiry; (4) producing; (5) communication; (6) assessment. In order to distinguish PBL from other instruction modes, the thesis indicates some difference between PBL and other modes, which is traditional instruction mode, problem-based learning and activity instruction mode.In chapter two, the thesis describes IT which is applied in PBL. In section one, IT is defined and classified. In section two, the paper investigates the functions of IT, such as powerful expressive force, supplying abundant resources, well-organized knowledge, supporting individual learning, improving the methods of cognition, supporting cooperation, supplying a virtual learning condition and promoting teaching management etc. The reason that PBL should be supported by IT is explained in section three. Certainly, without the help of IT, PBL will be short of resources; teachers will feel weary; and the space and time of communication will be limited.In chapter three, the thesis constructs a PBL model which is the blend of virtual and realistic situation. This is the most innovative part of the thesis. The" blend of virtual and realistic theory" means that the virtual and realistic learning context should be combined with each other and considered as a synthesis. In this model, the virtual learning context is supported by information technology, and the realistic context is the authentic environments. Although Internet can facilitate PBL, it can't substitute authentic environments. Only in authent...