About project-based learning (PBL).
According to edutopia.org, PBL "is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges. With this type of active and engaged learning, students are inspired to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they're studying." Nowadays there are several charter schools as well as non-charter schools that are implementing variations of PBL. Please review High Tech High's Design Principles to get a better idea of what our school values.
Other characteristics of PBL may include:
Other characteristics of PBL may include:
- More depth and less breadth - students may not learn everything but they will understand what they are learning at a much deeper level.
- Students learn TO... and students learn THAT... - unlike traditional schools, students at HTH learn real-world applicable skills as well as academic content.
- Not memorization but application - instead of just absorbing information, students at HTH do something with the information.
- Teacher acts as a facilitator rather than a "sage on stage" - teachers at HTH guide and learn with their students, exploring and wondering together as opposed to students becoming an empty vessel for teachers to pour knowledge into.
videos.
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These videos were created by a HTH teacher for other teachers. Although the target audience is teachers, it portrays what PBL is and is not in a very relatable way.
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more questions?
If you still have questions or are still confused about PBL, remember that you have an expert in your own home - your student! Communicating with your student is the key to understanding the concept and benefits of PBL. Allow your child to explain their current project, ask genuine questions you have about the topic your student is exploring, check your child's DP as well as his/her teachers' DPs and attend important events like Student Led Conferences (SLC), Presentation of Learning (POL) and exhibitions. Lastly, every HTH teacher has Office Hours that are open to both students and parents. If you have further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to talk to your child's teachers directly or you can always check out the FAQ.