Project Based Learning
Many of us out there know that project-based learning (PBL) inspires students to understand core content knowledge more deeply and gain key skills for success in college and career.
Evidence that PBL Works | Edutopia
Experimental Study of BIE Project-Based Economics Units
Finkelstein, N., Hanson, T., Huang, C.-W., Hirschman, B., and Huang, M. (2010).
A study, conducted by WestEd’s Regional Educational Laboratory West (REL West), addresses the following key research questions:
- Does PBE increase student content learning, motivation to learn economics, and problem-solving skills?
- Does PBE increase teacher knowledge in economics and teacher interest in teaching economics?
This federally funded experimental study examined the combined impact of a one-week summer professional development institute and the use of the BIE Project-Based Economics curriculum on the economic knowledge of approximately 7,000 twelfth grade students taught by 76 teachers in 66 high schools. Student outcomes that were studied included scores on the standardized Test of Economic Literacy (TEL), scores on performance assessments of student conceptual understanding. Teacher outcomes included confidence in teaching economics and satisfaction with teaching materials.
Results
Both high school students and their teachers benefit:
- Students outscored their peers in the control group who received the more typical textbook- and lecture-driven approach.
- Students also scored higher on measures of problem-solving skills and their application to real-world economic challenges
- Teachers scored higher in satisfaction with teaching material and methods than those in the control group.
For more info, view the official IES report or the WestEd research site.
