Who is Afraid of Project Work?

Slide 1 : Incorporating Project Work into the Classroom Summer Teacher Training Forum Rabat, July 2010 © Ed-Links-Morocco

1. The Project Work Tradition : 1. The Project Work Tradition English language educators have been exploring and exploiting the tradition of project work since the mid-seventies when ELT married principles of: > learner - centeredness > learner autonomy > task – based learning © Ed-Links-Morocco

2. Defining Project Work : 2. Defining Project Work Project work is "an approach to learning which complements mainstream methods and which can be used with almost all levels, ages and abilities of students“. (Haines 1989:1) © Ed-Links-Morocco

(Continued) : (Continued) Project-based learning is as a variable tool to integrate language and content learning for teachers working in an array of instructional settings. © Ed-Links-Morocco

3. Why Project Work in ELT? : 3. Why Project Work in ELT? Motivation is increased The four skills are integrated Autonomous learning is promoted Interpersonal relations are developed Content and methodology are negotiated © Ed-Links-Morocco

4. Implementation Plan : 4. Implementation Plan 4.1. Initial Stage Select a topic Discuss the topic Develop questions and assign tasks 4.2. Implementation Stage Provide resources Suggest ways to investigate the topic Enable students to be aware of the work being done through class discussion and display © Ed-Links-Morocco

Continued… : Continued… 4.3. Concluding Stage Arrange opportunities to share the end-product and experiences Offer pupils ways of personalizing their new knowledge Reflect on the project (process & product) and record feedback © Ed-Links-Morocco

5. The Role of the Teacher : 5. The Role of the Teacher Language Consultant Designer/Engineer Coordinator Resource Provider Assessor © Ed-Links-Morocco

Slide 9 :

6. Assessing a Project : 6. Assessing a Project 6.1. Why assess? To improve the quality of the learning and teaching process 6.2. What to assess? > understanding of the topic > grasp of new knowledge and skills > dedication to the project > cooperation with others > the end product © Ed-Links-Morocco

(continued) : (continued) 6.3. Who and whom to assess? > Teacher assessment Teacher assessing students > Peer assessment Students assessing each other > Self-assessment Students assessing themselves Teacher assessing himself/herself © Ed-Links-Morocco

7. Some Possible Drawbacks of Project Work : 7. Some Possible Drawbacks of Project Work Learners using their own language If the class are monolingual they may use their L1 a lot. Some learners doing nothing By giving more freedom to the learners you may also be giving them the freedom to do nothing! Groups working at different speeds One group may have 'finished' the project after a couple of hours and say they have nothing to do. © Ed-Links-Morocco

Resources: : Resources: Bibliography Haines, S 1989. Projects for the EFL classroom London: Nelson Henry, J. 1994. Teaching through projects. London: Kogan Page Limited. Papandreou, A. 1994. An application of the projects approach to EFL. English Teaching Forum, 32, 3, pp.41-42. Webliography http://www.wiziq.com/tutorial/8183-project-work http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6893/is_1_11/ai_n31942507 http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v8n2/clark.html http://www.linkedin.com/in/khalilzakari © Ed-Links-Morocco

Slide 14 : Initial Stage : * Developing questions and assigning tasks © Ed-Links-Morocco http://ed-links-morocco.ning.com/