In the introduction of this article itsays the the "dominant paradigm" is showing signs of wear. When they say "dominant paradigm" they are referring to all the students learning comes from either the teacher or a textbook. The students will obtain the information by reading, listening to lectures, and discussions. The article says they we are stuck in a way of teaching that was created a century ago. They are saying we need to move from this kind of learning to project-based learning.
Project-based learning is when students complete a complex task and usually result in a real product event or presentation. Learning this way allows students to actually think more and have a product at the end where the traditional approach is just students listening or reading."Generally, research on project-based learning (PBL) has found that students who engage in this approach benefit from gains in factual learning that are equivalent or superior to those of students who engage in traditional forms of instruction (Thomas, 2000)." By students actually doing hands-on activities they will retain knowledge more than just listen to someone lecture the whole time. The article also says that"the students engaged in project-based learning demonstrated a significant increase in scores on a critical-thinking test, as well as increased confidence in their learning (Shepard, 1998). This shows that students are learning more and that the critical-thinking skills are improving as well. "Other short-term, comparative studies of traditional vs. project-based approaches have demonstrated several benefits from projects, such as an increase in the ability to define problems (Gallagher, Stepien, & Rosenthal, 1992), growth in their ability to support their reasoning with clear arguments (Stepien, Gallagher, & Workman, 1993), and enhanced ability to plan a project after working on an analogous problem-based challenge (Moore, Sherwood, Bateman, Bransford, & Goldman, 1996)." As you can see project based learning is a better choice than traditional learning. The students gain more knowledge, they are more involved in their learning, there is a purpose for their learning, and they are gaining more knowledge about real world situations and tasks.
Problem-based learning is kind of like project-based learning. In problem-based learning the lessons usually have an activity that focuses on using reasoning and resources to solve a problem. "In problem-based learning, students work in small groups to investigate meaningful problems, identify what they need to learn in order to solve a problem, and generate strategies for solution (Barrows, 1996; Hmelo-Silver, 2004)." Students are learning how to solve problems by working with others as a team. "Similar problem- or case-based approaches have been used in business, law, and teacher education to help students learn to analyze complex, multifaceted situations and to develop knowledge to guide decisionmaking (see, e.g. Lundeberg, Levin, & Harrington, 1999; Savery & Duffy, 1996; Williams, 1992)." The students are learning to use problem solving to analyze situations that they will use later on in life.It also says that "They also experience larger gains in conceptual understanding in science (Williams, Hemstreet, Liu, & Smith, 1998)." Students will improve in science because problem solving is the basis of science.
Learning by design are lessons that have several features to make them ideal for the subject matter. In a sixth-grade classroom using learning by design they say that "the design project led to better learning outcomes than the traditional approach to instruction (Hmelo, Holton, and Kolodner, 2000)" This shows that tradition learning needs to be used less and use the new resources that we have avalaible to us today. "Researchers also observed that design activities are particularly good for helping students develop understanding of complex systems, noting that the systems can be presented as a united whole whose structure is adapted to specific purposes (Perkins, 1986)." When students have a larger understanding of the subject they will learn about the subject in more of a complex way. Through learning by design studnets build websites and the article says "to date, more than 30,000 students have created more than 550 Web sites through this competition (www.thinkquest.org/library/)."
So to review project-based learning teaches students to explore real world problems and challenges. Problem-based learning is to teach students problem solving skills as well has help to acquire knowledge and skills. Learning by design is a project-based inquiry that deals with reasoning.
In my opinion, the most important learning aspect that is common among the three types of learning is that students are learning knowledge and skills to use in the real world. Students need to learn these life skills that they will use in their everyday lives.
Resource:
Barron, B., & Darling-Hammond, L. (1991). Teaching for meaningful learning. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/edutopia-teaching-for-meaningful-learning.pdf
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