{"id":2696,"date":"2012-11-11T09:40:28","date_gmt":"2012-11-11T16:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.teachjim.com\/?p=2696"},"modified":"2012-11-11T09:40:28","modified_gmt":"2012-11-11T16:40:28","slug":"why-personal-learning-projects-conflict-with-project-based-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.teachjim.com\/index.php\/2012\/11\/11\/why-personal-learning-projects-conflict-with-project-based-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Personal Learning Projects Conflict with Project Based Learning?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Battleground: Personal Learning Projects vs Project Based Learning<\/h2>\n

 
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\"Students<\/a>

Students from Rhodes Park Secondary School, Zambia taking part in a Global Teenager Project Learning Circle. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)<\/p><\/div>
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\nAt first glance “Project Based Learning” and “Personal Learning Projects” look like the same thing.\u00a0 Learners investigating meaningful questions or problems with limited resources.\u00a0 Only after you examine what individual students do in each type of project do you begin to see the experiences as extremely different.<\/span>
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\nHere are a few quick definitions:<\/span>
\nProject Based Learning <\/strong>engages learners in meaningful, authentic learning experiences while working to solve a challenge facing the class or group of students.\u00a0 After creating clarifying questions, students conduct investigative research to learn more about the question and ways to approach arriving at a solution. Once they arrive at a solution they share it with relevant audiences.<\/span>
\nPersonal Learning Projects<\/strong> are learning efforts initiated by students to answer questions or solve problems they face by seeking meaningful solutions.\u00a0 Self-directed learning and its underlying premise counts on learners to self-select activities and outcomes. Project Based Learning and Personal Learning Projects on a collision course.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who is in charge is the key question.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 
\nProject Based Learning<\/strong> tends to be driven by the teacher \/ facilitators in formal learning institutions striving to get out into the real world with authentic learning situations.\u00a0 Notice the institution or it’s staff are the ones driving project management issues. Time frame, depth of investigation and resource allocation are all elements of project based learning left primarily for instructional leaders.<\/span>
\n\u00a0While embracing the fuzzy nature of projects at the beginning, Personal Learning Projects<\/strong> are more deeply driven and directed by the learner. The learner determines the scope of the project.\u00a0 They drive the time line and the depth of the study. Desired results are also dictated by the independent learner not the formal institution or mentor \/ advisor \/ facilitator\/teacher.\u00a0<\/span>
\nAccordingly, Personal Learning Projects can sit within the formal learning institutions but Project Based Learning, as discussed on edutopia or other educational institutional enterprise, do not lend themselves to Personal Learning Projects. Self-directed vs Institution directed learning issues are to blame here.<\/span><\/p>\n

Project Based Learning Transitions to Personal Learning Projects<\/h2>\n

Project based learning and Personal Learning Projects share several\u00a0 key elements.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Project Based Learning<\/strong><\/strong> <\/td>\nPersonal Learning Projects<\/strong><\/strong> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Question or Problem<\/td>\nFuzzy Mess or Exacting Problem<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clarification \/ Classification Gap \/ Problem analysis<\/td>\nDetermine Factors Required for Relevant Outcomes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Conduct investigations<\/td>\nCarry out learning activities<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Analyze Data<\/td>\nData Analysis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Process into Presentations<\/td>\nPresentation Preparations \/ Implementation Activities<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Share what you learned<\/td>\nShare with peers \/ customers \/vendors \/ others<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Overcoming Challenges of Personal Learning Projects with Project Based Learning<\/h2>\n

Success in both types of projects are dependent on steady progression toward desired results attainment.\u00a0 It is the overcoming of challenges which rewards participants in both types of projects.\u00a0 Self-directed learners engaged in Personal Learning Projects can learn first hand the “how do I direct a project” through the experience.\u00a0 Learners in the Project Based Learning are sheltered to a degree from the harsh realities of the fuzzy nature of projects.\u00a0 Especially on the fly adjusting to external pressure and determining when the project will be over and when “enough” delivers on successful results.<\/span><\/p>\n

Implications of Project Based Learning on Refactoring your Personalized Education Plan<\/h2>\n

\"English:<\/a>

English: A Service Learning Project at Batam organised by MaxPac Travel for Catholic Junior College students (Photo credit: Wikipedia)<\/p><\/div>
\nProject Based Learning models and the movement to more authentic activities and assessments provide\u00a0 exciting changes to student centric learning.\u00a0 Observation of and participation in the decision making process is a strong element in most nationally supported Project Based Learning initiatives.\u00a0<\/span>
\nPersonal Learning Projects on the other hand, take the authentic, real world nature of learning to the individual and allow them the full experience of making all decisions.\u00a0 They get to decide what they learn and how they will manage the project and associated resources.\u00a0 In this process the Personal Learning Project adds a significant layer of project management learning.\u00a0<\/span>
\nIn both project driven experiences the mentors \/ facilitators need to take full advantage of the authentic motivational richness of the project learning model.\u00a0 Capitalizing on the strengths of each type of project learning makes students stronger and better prepared to initiate their own projects and the exercise of their own\u00a0 voice.<\/span>
\nSo when will you dare to direct your own learning with a Personal Learning Project? We do it everyday over at iLEARNet.com<\/a>.<\/span>
\nWe Can help! \u00a0Within the<\/span>Click and Retire Stratagem<\/span><\/a> we have a learning environment set to assist self-directed learners in their own \u00a0Personal Learning Projects.<\/span><\/span>
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\"Teach<\/a><\/div>\n
\"Speak<\/a><\/div>\n

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