Project Method

Project Method:

Based on philosophy of pragmatism.

Education should be for life & throughout life – John dewey

Gap between school life & home life should be bridged.

School should be a society in miniature.

Connected facts are developed round a central theme.

Definition:

1.                 A project is a whole hearted purposeful activity proceeding in a social environment.

- Kipatrick

2.                 A project is a problematic act carried to completion in its natural setting.  

- Stevenson

Project method is based on following principles:
Co-operation & activity

Learning by living

Learning by doing

Points to be kept in mind while carrying out project:

1.                 Small group

2.                 Suitable Planning and organization

3.                 Based on use desire

4.                 Assign definite task

5.                 Observation & notes

Examples:

A)      Around the idea of wave motion

1.                 Study of sound

2.                 Study of light

3.                 Study of electromagnetic waves & radio broadcasting

B)               What happens when things burn?

Develops chemistry of oxidation

Physics of heat & its transference

C)              Botany of plant respiration

D)              Zoology of animal respiration

E)               Hydroelectric Power:

F)               Building up school museum

G)              Collections for Science fair

H)              Maintaining the meteroliogical section of school

I)                  Improvising Science apparatus

J)                Improvising Science experiments

Steps for project method:

1.                 Providing a situation

To discover interests. By different method. E.g. talking to the students. How did they pass their holidays? What did they see in museum etc?

2.                 Choosing and proposing

Choosing & compelling project defeats the whole purpose of this method. Final choice should be from students. Guidance for better project by providing another situation. Purpose of project should be clearly defined & understood.

3.                 Planning

Detail of the project. Guide by giving some suggestions. Nothing should be imposed on students.

4.                 Executing

Longest step. Needs patience. Selection, planning & execution by the students. Dividing plan & distributing work. Work assigning as per the interest, tastes, aptitude and capability. Teacher role is to keep close watch , encourage students and provide guidance.

5.                 Evaluating

Review of work done. Find mistakes, if any students self criticism. Own failings and findings. Let them see what lesson they have learnt.

6.                 Recording

Complete record of whole project.

-         Proposal plan

-         Discussion

-         Duty allocation

-         Books refer

-         Places visited

-         Maps drawn

-         Places surveyed

-         Lesson Learnt

-         Guidance for future

Role of the Teacher:

1.                 Close Relations:

Develops intimate, close, healthy relations understand & appreciates problems.

2.                 Friendly Attitude:

Helps to avoid mistakes & work collectively.

3.                 Opportunities:

Give opportunities to students to share their ideas, thoughts and views.

4.                 Better Methods:

No impose but explains to employed better techniques.

5.                 Teacher also learns:

Do not claims that he knows everything.

6.                 Democracy:

Develops personality character by giving responsibility & status.

7.                 Encouragement:

Develops real democratic atmosphere & encourages to express themselves.

8.                 Alert and Active:

Taps all resources to help students.

9.                 As a guide:

    Commander, task master. Helps & guide when need arise.

Merits of Project Method:

1.                 Selection of project

2.                 Interest development

3.                 Useful for all

4.                 Related to outside world

5.                 Joy of discoveries

6.                 Self activity

7.                 Knowledge

8.                 Correlation

9.                 Creative thinking

10.             Cooperation

Demerits of Project Method:

1.                 Superficial Knowledge

2.                 Work load

3.                 In-experienced Teachers

4.                 Unskilled Teachers

5.                 Lack of Textbooks

6.                 Costly Method

7.                 Unorganized Teaching

8.                 Time consuming

Reference : How to teach Science by V. K. Kohli