2. SIMILARITIES
Problem Based Leaning and Project Based learning are similar in many ways.
Both approaches:
• Are instructional strategies used to enhance learning
• Are student centered
• Uses the teacher is the facilitator
• Encourage students to work in collaborative groups
• Seek many different sources for information
3. DIFFERENCES
Problem Based Learning starts off with a problem for students to solve.
• Students are presented with a problem
• Students plan a strategy to solve the problem based upon prior
knowledge, asking additional questions or researching for additional
information
• Students devise a plan, share knowledge
• They may present their conclusion by a presentation or just share an answer.
Project Based Learning begins with the end product in mind.
• Students are given an end product to create.
• Students are given more time to reflect and evaluate their work.
• There are opportunities for research, design and create a plan.
4. SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS
PROBLEM BASED
Cell phone problem
You are considering two different cell phone comp. Company A charges
$30 plus .09 cents per minute. Company B charges $20 per month plus
.12 cents a minute.
Write two equations that show your phone bill, C, as a function of the
minutes, m, per month.
How do you graph the two equations?
When will both cell phone plans be the same?
Are there any factors that would influence your choice of Company A or
Company B?
5. SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS
PROJECT BASED
Cell phone problem
You have been asked to create a PowerPoint presentation to a private
business called SmartyPants that that has 100 sales employees. They are
trying to decide on which cell phone provider to sign their next contract.
Choose two different companies and compare and contrast the benefits
of using that provider.
Be sure to provide a graph
(depicting the equation) for
each company’s rate.
Summarize which company
would be best
Note any possible
constraints that would save
SmartyPants the most
money.
6. PROBLEM BASED AND PROJECT BASED
LEARNING
No longer are teachers the
sage on the stage
(Gallow, 2005).
When students collaborate they
are essential improving their
own skills (Gasser, 2011).
7. References
Bell, S. (2010). Project-based learning for the 21st century: Skills for the future. The
Clearing House, 83(2), 39-43.
Gallow, D. (2005) What is problem based learning? Retrieved from
htttp://www.pbl.uci.edu/whatispbl.html
Gasser, K. W. (2011). Five ideas for 21st century math classrooms. American
Secondary Education, 39(3), 108-116.
Thomas, J.W. (2000) A review of research on PBL. Retrieved from
http://www.bobpearlman.org/estPractices/PBL_Reserach.pdf
