By: CLAIRE JOHNSON
Staff Writer
In a perfect world, every student deserves to have an individualized learning plan made just for them. Having a path of curriculum designed specifically for every student would help individuals grow so much more quickly. As amazing as this would be, this is not practical for teachers and it is not as easily done as said. However, school districts and educators have come up with two other ways to educate students. Project-based learning and textbook learning have been argued upon, discussed upon, and pondered through over many years. Both approaches have many educational benefits. The objective is for students to master content and skills, but how students should be taught varies from educator to educator. While neither one should be used exclusively in a classroom, project-based learning and textbook learning have a variety of pros and cons.
Project-based learning is student-driven learning around a big idea, question, or theme. For example, students may learn about history by asking, “What is the impact of an individual during times of political conflict?” The teacher would lead students to learn about several individuals, their lives, and then present their findings to a real audience, perhaps political leaders or a community group. Students have a choice in how they gather their research and often have a choice in how they present their findings (presentation, brochure, letter, essay, movie, speech, PSA, etc.). Project-based learning involves critical thinking and self-sufficient learning. Teachers facilitate questions and guidance like a rubric but do not give students the answer. Students are expected to be able to struggle and continue on with perseverance even in the most difficult times. Being able to push through strenuous periods of learning while developing important skills in school is what project-based learning is all about. It also prepares us for college and careers since being self-directed leads to success. Project-based learning allows more opinions and a variety of answers rather than one correct way.
Planning out a complex project with a real audience and mainly student choice is difficult and time-consuming and does not necessarily guarantee that students learn specific content or skills. That is why having one simple way to teach is ideal. Textbook learning has often been viewed as old fashioned or old school. This type of learning typically involves a teacher teaching a lesson out of a book written by experts in the field of study. Lessons or units in a textbook are made specifically for that class, subject, or course around standards with strategies designed for many types of learners. This ensures that all students in a history class get the content they are supposed to get. Textbook learning also stimulates the need to be independent as well as open to learning how others have learned the same content before. Textbook teaching is much simpler to teach and that is why it is more common than project-based learning. When learning with a textbook, there is typically one set answer. This can be a good thing because students will know when they have mistaken or mastered something.
Both project-based learning and textbook learning are commonly used today in our school systems. While some schools use one more than the other, project-based learning and textbook learning both have benefits. Whichever learning system is being used, just know that both project-based learning and textbook learning challenge students to learn content and skills. In the end, educators have to decide what is best for their students.