Project-Based learning (PBL) at Acton Columbus
What is Project-based learning?
Project-based learning involves learners in solving real-world problems or addressing authentic questions and challenges through the development of a project. This approach is often more effective than traditional methods such as learning from textbooks because it is more engaging and motivating, and it helps to develop important skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration.
One of the main benefits of project-based learning is that it allows students to take an active role in their own learning. In other words, it gives them agency over their own education. Rather than simply receiving information from a teacher or textbook, our Heroes are responsible for identifying and researching a problem or question, developing a plan to address it, and presenting their findings to their peers. This hands-on, experiential approach to learning helps to engage learners and inspire them to take ownership of their learning.
Another benefit of project-based learning is that it helps to develop important 21st century skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. These transferable skills are essential for success in the real world and are often difficult to teach through traditional methods such as lectures and textbooks. By engaging learners in authentic, real-world problems and challenges, project-based learning helps to develop these skills in a way that is meaningful and relevant to students.
Additionally, when young learners are able to see the relevance of what they are learning and how it applies to the real world, they are more likely to be motivated to learn and to retain the material. By contrast, traditional methods such as lectures and textbooks can be dry and unengaging, which can lead to student disengagement and poor retention of material.
How do we apply it at Acton Academy Columbus?
Quests
At Acton, every six weeks, we focus on a different Quest. A Quest is a theme that we focus on in the afternoons. Quests that we worked on last year included Coding and Robotics, Greek Acton, Around the World, Entreprenurship, Community Garden, and Growing Curiosity..
With Coding and Robotics, for example, our learners learned how to code and then applied that code to play around with Robots. They wrote code to get the robots to light up, move around, and even talk. The Quest was highly engaging for them and much more meaningful than learning code / script from a textbook.
When we were working on the Entrepreneurship quest, our learners were challenged with actually becoming entrepreneurs and creating their own business. We then set up a Farmer’s Market - a Children’s Business Fair - in our backyard where our young Entrepreneurs were the vendors. We extended this out to other learners from other schools. The event was highly successful with hundreds of visitors around Columbus coming to shop at our Farmer’s Market. Each of our learner’s made over $100 at the Farmer’s Market. The Quest was highly meaningful for them - they felt what they were doing was important…. because it was.
STEM / STEAM / Entrepreneurship Projects
In addition to our Quests, we focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) and Entrepreneurship projects. Our afternoons are focused on projects - many of which are STEM related. These projects help our learners develop their 4 Cs skills - Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, and Critical Thinking. As they work in teams, learners also develop their project management skills - they practice time management, delegation, and leadership. While doing all of this - they find their voice and build their confidence.