Project-Based Learning, I believe, is essential for students to learn valuable skills at a young age. PBL promotes and takes into consideration the following categories: Interdisciplinary Studies, Collaboration, Inquiry, Motivation, Self-Directed Learning, Learning Styles, Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, and Technology Integration. All of the aforementioned are essential to 21st century learners. If all of these skills are learned at a younger age (junior learners) then they will be implemented and practiced for the rest of the students' careers (both in school and out of school in the real world). These are not only essential skills for school life but also for the working world and the social realm.
Interdisciplinary studies focuses on two or more academic subjects that combines knowledge with skills (also known as cross-curricular studies). Collaboration focuses on two or more people working together to reach a common goal. Sometimes this can be called cooperative learning where each student generates ideas, plans, organizes, and shares together. Inquiry focuses on searching for knowledge by asking questions, examining facts, and summarizing information. PBL allows for this because it provides a section where a problem must be observed - a study or an investigation of some sort. PBL deals with the issue of students being un-motivated because it entices students by creating personal meaning. Most of the topics for PBL are self-chosen which also touches upon the aspect of self-directed learning. Self-Directed Learning is great for fostering independence and responsibility in students right from a young age. Students will understand what it is like to work within a given time frame, and also learn how to pace their work/keep themselves on-track. PBL caters to different learning styles because when the students choose their projects themselves, they officially select which learning style they will employ to engage in their projects. PBL fosters critical thinking which is an extremely important skill and focus for the 21st century, along with creative thinking. These two types of thinking focus on interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and the summarization of information while stimulating imagination to create ideas, insights, solutions, etc. Students are engaged and creatively stimulated to want to do well - as it is a project of their choice (something that interests them individually). Lastly, PBL integrates technology as it focuses on self-directed learning where the student can decide if they would like to include method of technology.
I have attached three examples of worksheets that would help the junior learner or high school learner through a project-based learning unit. The first is a team work plan so that the work is divided up appropriately and responsibly. The second is a project management log so each member in the group knows what is required of them and by when (there are check boxes on both worksheets for when each is completed). The third is a self-reflection which is extremely important. It is important to self-reflect because in doing so, students are able to learn about themselves and the way they learn.
Though there are a great number of skills that have stayed the same from the past until now, there are definite changes made that are reflected in the 21st century. One is that technological advancement is huge and is trying to become more popular in schools and learning communities. Another is that the emphasis is placed on teacher-student learning partners (teachers are always learning regardless of their age or status in the profession), teachers learn alongside students. Both students and teachers benefit from this partnership.
I found an incredible link that shows the difference between 20th and 21st century education and it is phenomenal to see how drastically things have changed. There has been a shift from a teacher-centered, fragmented curriculum where students are working in isolation and memorizing facts to a focus on what students know, what students can be, and what students can do (shift from teacher-centered education to the focus on the child/student), and PBL has helped evolve that shift.
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