1. PROJECT BASED
LEARNING (PBL) IN
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TEACHING
Courtney Cunningham
Doctor of Education
cbc.elt@gmail.com
2. Virtual Mini-series Overview
Module 1- PBL
Overview
Module 2-
Specifying
Project Goals
and Objectives
Module 4- Other
Forms of
Collaborative
Learning
Module 3-
Project Review,
Implementation,
and Ideas
3. Mini-Series Objectives
After attending this virtual mini-series, you will be able
to:
• State and explain the major elements of PBL
• Produce goals and objectives for potential projects
• Specify objectives within the ABCD model
• Identify and explain other forms of collaborative
learning
• Develop project ideas and plans for implementation
5. PBL is a form of
collaborative
learning
Collaborative Learning (CL) generally
involves four key principles:
it is learner centered
emphasizes interaction
involves group work
develops solutions to real challenges
What is collaborative learning?
Also known as cooperative learning, it has
become a trend because it recognizes the
social, emotional, and learning gains connected
with collaboration.
https://library.educause.edu/resources/2017/2/2017-horizon-reportPhoto taken from PowerPoint stock images
6. Why Collaborative Learning?
Collaborative learning is an important aspect
of active learning. It fosters a community of
inquiry and a sense of belonging among
students. When students work together to
solve problems, the collaboration skills they
develop lead to deeper learning and
understanding
According to Edutopia, collaborative learning
has proven to result in higher student
achievement, higher self-esteem, and higher
motivation.
https://www.edutopia.org/video/collaborative-learning-builds-deeper-understanding
7. Do you use
collaborative/cooperative
learning? If so, how? What
types of activities do you
incorporate into your
teaching/learning
environment?
Use the chat function in Zoom to answer the
following.
8. Collaborative learning
in the EFL/ESL
classroom
Meaningful interaction is essential in second
language learning.
Communicative language teaching has grown
in popularity because it gives learners
opportunities to use the language, increasing
their skills and contributing to communicative
competence.
Collaborative/cooperative learning gives
English language learners the opportunity to
use the language with their peers in a
comfortable environment.
They are able to work together and learn from
each other, increasing their language skills and
confidence.
9. Task Based
Learning
Photo taken from PowerPoint stock images
• Task based learning is rooted in
communicative language teaching
• Learners complete a task that elicits
the use of the target language
• The task is completed by the end of
a lesson
• The task is done in small groups or
pairs
10. General
Principles of
Task Based
Learning
According to onTESOL, the general principles of task-based
learning are:
1. Relevant tasks
2. Tasks are extremely varied, but all share
several common features
3. Students learn by interacting
4. Focus on using and eliciting authentic
language
5. Errors are a natural part of the learning
process
6. Focus on the process as a whole rather than
the end product
7. Participation in and completion of tasks is
extremely motivational
8. Tasks provide two key processing elements
that are necessary for language learning:
input and output
11. With your group, design a new invention for the future. Answer
the following questions in complete sentences. Some answers may
need more than one sentence.
Questions:
What kind of invention will you create? (i.e. a robot, a
new kind of car, a new type of cell phone, etc.
What does it look like? Include details (more than 2
sentences is good). Please draw a picture of it.
Who will use this invention?
What is special about this invention? What can it do?
Include LOTS of details .
Why did you choose to create this invention? Why do we
need it?
What is the name of your invention? How much will it
cost?
Your answers must include:
at least 5 sentences with future will
at least 10 new vocabulary words
Design a Future
Invention
We have talked about robots,
bionic limbs, new kinds of cars
and other transportation,
cloning, as well as cell phones
and other devices.
If you could design and create a new invention, what would it be?
13. WHAT OTHER
IDEAS FOR
TASKS DO YOU
HAVE?
Using the comment feature in Zoom,
share your ideas.
Photo taken from PowerPoint stock images
14. Plan a road trip
Plan a farewell
party
Make a phone call
to make a dinner
reservation
Write an email to a
future employer
Other task-based learning ideas
15. Problem
based
learning
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-
ShareAlike 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this
license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ or
send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain
View, CA 94042, USA.
16. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.
17. Other forms of
Collaborative Learning
• Collaborative games
• Pair and group discussions
• Drama and role-play
Photo taken from PowerPoint stock images
19. What’s your favorite
game to play with
students?
Take 10 minutes to discuss your favorite
games with the group in your breakout
room:
Photo taken from PowerPoint stock images
20. Share
What games were
shared in your group
discussion?
Using the chat function, share what you
discussed with your group.
Photo taken from PowerPoint stock images
21. Pair and Group Discussion
• Listening triangles
• Talk partners
• Think-pair-share
• Snowballing
• Working on shared tasks
• Matching, sorting, ranking
22. Drama and Role Play Activities
• Hot seating
• Freeze frame
• Working in groups to devise a scene in
a familiar genre, e.g. TV news item or
documentary
• Setting a scene involving the whole
class making the whole room into e.g.
The Village, The Island
https://www.bell-foundation.org.uk/eal-programme/guidance/effective-teaching-of-eal-learners/great-
ideas/drama-and-role-play/
23. Mini-Series Objectives
After attending this virtual mini-series, you will be able
to:
• State and explain the major elements of PBL
• Produce goals and objectives for potential projects
• Specify objectives within the ABCD model
• Identify and explain other forms of collaborative
learning
• Develop project ideas and plans for implementation