Project Approach and learning

1. PROJECT APPROACH
Teresa de Jesus Cortez-Sernas
SOE 115-B1
Psychology of Teaching and Learning
National Louis University/Kendall College

2. OVERVIEW:
The project approach was originated with the purpose of
understanding the real world issues in a democratic society. With
the project approach, children learn to make choices and
decisions while they are learning through hands-on experiences.
http://projectapproach.org/about/project-approach/

3. SOURCE 1:
Main Qualities
• High motivation and active involvement in a cooperative work, related to
real world issues.
• Teaching and learning become an interactive process.
• Fosters individual growth and collaboration among children.
• Can be used alongside the main curriculum.
I wanted to learn about Project Approach because I believe that children
learn better when they experience with activities of their interest.
http://projectapproach.org/about/project-approach/

4. SOURCE 2:
Projects in real world
• Projects make the word move, and when projects are fussed with
technology, they look even more advanced although they are always
originated by the human thinking.
• Students’ engagement in real world problem-solving includes but is not
limited to solve a nutrition problem by developing a healthier menu of the
school cafeteria, to present a documentary of a worthwhile event that
changed the community for the better, or to experience hands-on projects
in early childhood education.
https://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-history

5. SOURCE 3:
Project approach in Early Childhood Education
• Phase 1: Begin the project by brainstorming what children already
know and by brainstorming questions on a child’s interesting topic.
• Phase 2: Children carry out their investigation on the selected topic
through real explorations.
• Phase 3: Conclude project by presenting what the children learned.
Teachers might help children to present their projects by offering
different medias such art, drama, etc.

6. Analysis
The similarities among the authors points of view is that children
learn a variety of skills by investigating and by doing. I think the
authors points of view was shaped by the benefits of learning while
the children are experiencing with activities of their interests. One of
the authors presented the combination of technology with hands-on
project, which is a newer addition into project approach.
It would be beneficial for me to learn more about examples of the
project approach in early childhood education.

7. CONNECTIONS:
John Dewey theory argues about the importance of learning through
active experiences in a dynamic word. Jean Piaget, in his constructivist
approach to education, argues that children build on what they already know
by asking questions, investigating, interacting with others, and reflecting on
experiences. Project approach reflects similarities to Dewey’s theory and
constructivism in the process of learning.
https://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-history

8. CONCLUSIONS
I believe children can learn a lot from the project approach because there
are evidences that show children learn through socialization and experiences.
Piaget’s theory, for example, reflects how children acquire knowledge through
socialization. In addition, any topic is more interesting to children when they
have background knowledge about the same topic or when the topic is of
their interest. Moreover, Young children make sense of their surrounding
from hands-on experiences and by socialization.

9. COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES:
“This week we are going to start a project on babies. A group of children
of this classroom has shown interest by continuously talking about babies and
by asking teachers about babies. At home you can start talking about babies
too or show your child pictures about the time she/he was a baby as you
explain what she/he was able to do. Next Wednesday, we will visit the infant
and toddler room so the children can observe what babies need, what they
can do, and how others can take care and help the babies grow. This is an
activity that we have scheduled as part of our project that was originated by
our student’s interest.”

10. References
http://projectapproach.org/about/project-approach/ (2014).
https://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-history
(2018).
Judy Harris Helm & Lilian G. katz. (2016). Young Investigators:
The Project Approach in the Early Years. N. Y. Teachers College,
Columbia University.