This document defines and describes the project method of teaching. It notes that a project involves a wholehearted and purposeful activity carried out in a social environment. Key characteristics of the project method include taking learning beyond the classroom, encouraging investigative learning and problem-solving, and promoting student involvement, scientific inquiry, and social skills. The steps of a project generally include creating a situation, selecting a problem, planning, execution, evaluation, and reporting. Merits include developing critical thinking and social skills, while demands on time, resources, and teacher expertise are potential demerits.

1. PROJECT
METHOD
SUDESHNA BANERJEE DUTTA
LECTURER S.R.S.V.M CON

2. DEFINITION
❑ According to W.H. Kilpatrick, “A project is a
wholehearted purposeful activity proceeding in a
social environment”.
❑ According to Ballord, “A project is a bit of real life that
has been imparted into school” .

3. CHARACTERISTICS
➢ It takes the student beyond the walls of the class room. It
is carried out in a natural setting, thus making learning
realistic and experiential
➢ It encourages investigative learning and solution of
practical problems.
➢ It is focused on the student as it enlists his/her active
involvement in the task set
➢ It encourages the spirit of scientific enquiry as it involves
validation of hypotheses based on evidence gathered
from the field through investigation

4. CHARACTERISTICS cont…
➢ It promotes a better knowledge of the practical aspects of
knowledge gained from books.
➢ It enhances the student’s social skills, as it requires interaction with
the social environment.
➢ Teacher plays a facilitative role rather than the role of an expert.
➢ It allows the students a great degree of freedom to choose from
among the options given to them; hence it provides a psychological
boost.
➢ It encourages the spirit of research in the student.

6. TYPES cont…
➢ In the SIMPLE PROJECTS the students are completing
only one work at a time. It gives the deep information
about the project in a one angle. The students get
deeper and broader knowledge about the problem
➢ In the COMPLEX PROJECT the students are carried out
more than one work at a time. They are focuses on the
work in various subject and angles. Here the students
get the knowledge about the work in various activities
and dimensions.

7. STEPS OF A PROJECT METHOD
1. Creating Situation: In the first step teacher creates the proper
situation to the students in the class. He puts up the knowledge
about the project method procedure, steps, and uses to the
students.
2. Selection of the problem: The teacher helps the students to
select the problem and guide them. Students are having
freedom to choose the topic or problem based on their interest
and ability.
Teacher should only tempt the students for a particular
project by providing a situation but the proposal for the project
should finally come from students.

8. STEPS cont…
3. Planning: The teacher discuss with the students about the problem in
various angles and points. After the free expression of the students’
opinion about the problem, the teacher writes down the whole
programme of action stepwise on the blackboard.
4. Execution: The students are stating their work in this step. They are
collecting the relevant information and materials at first. The teacher
should give the time and right to the students according to their own
speed, interest and ability. During this step the teacher should
carefully supervise the pupils in manipulative skills to prevent waste
of materials and to guard accidents.

9. STEPS cont…
5. Evaluation: Evaluation of the project should be done both by the pupils
and the teachers. Here the students evaluating their task. They
determine whether the objects are achieved or not. After that they
criticize and express their feeling about the task freely.
6. Reporting and Recording: It is the last step of the project method in
which each and every step of the work are reported. The reported
things are recorded in a certain order in a book form. It should include
the proposal, plan and its discussion, duties allotted to different
students and how far they were carried out by them. It should also
include the details of places visited and surveyed guidance for future
and all other possible details. The book formatted report is submitted
to the teacher at the end.

11. MERITS OF PROJECT
➢ This method is not only subject centered, but due importance is being
provided to the students also.
➢ Through this method, students are provided with various
opportunities by which they can satisfy their interests and desires
➢ Habit of critical thinking gets developed among the students through
this method.
➢ With this method, students get the ample chances in which they can
develop coordination among their body and mind.

12. ➢ Through this method, teacher can lead a well
balanced development of the students.
➢ Helps in promoting social interaction and co-operation
among the students
➢ It helps to widen the mental horizon of pupils.
➢ It sets up a challenge to solve a problem and this
stimulates constructive and creative thinking.

13. DEMERITS
➢ This method takes a lot of time to plan and execute a single project.
➢ It is not possible to design different projects for different topics and it
is also not possible to cover all the topics or content in a single
project.
➢ For proper execution of a project, large number of financial resources
are required.
➢ Such method can only be prove successful if the teacher is highly
knowledgeable, alert and exceptionally gifted.
➢ Sometimes the projects may be too ambitious and beyond student’s
capacity to accomplish.