Project-based learning is a teaching method where students gain knowledge and skills by working to design and create a product or presentation. It uses multimedia like text, graphics, video and sound. Key aspects include addressing core curriculum, making real-world connections, extended timeframes, student decision making, collaboration, and assessment. Students learn by creating multimedia themselves rather than just using others' work. Benefits include improving hard skills like problem solving and soft skills like collaboration. It prepares students for skills like planning, presenting information, and applying academic knowledge to the real world.

1. Project Based Learning
By Cathryn Dozier

2. Background Information
Project-based learning is not a new
educational method. The use of multimedia is
a dynamic new form of communication. The
merging of project-based learning and
multimedia represents an extraordinary
teaching strategy that we call project-based
multimedia learning. Guidelines for
implementing and developing your own units
based on this strategy.

3. Imagine this……..
 You look for the teacher as you enter his classroom—he
isn't located at the front of the room. He is among a group
of students.
 As you wait, you notice several groups. At the computers,
three boys are typing some text, another group of boys
paints a colorful scene to be scanned, and a last group of
girls uses a Venn diagram. You want to ask them about
their work but can't bear to break their concentration.
 Mr. Dozier notices you and starts toward you, but each
group of students she passes stops her to proudly show
off their work or ask her to check something. He reaches
you and explains the various activities the children are
working on to prepare their multimedia presentations. You
talk for 8 minutes before you notice this….the children are
all still working, still engrossed, still animated and
focused.
 Project-based learning is going on in Mr. Dozier’s room.

4. What is Project-Based
Learning?
Definition:
Project-based multimedia
learning is a method of
teaching in which
students acquire new
knowledge and skills in
the course of designing,
planning, and producing
a multimedia product.
 Multimedia: integration of
media objects such as
text, graphics, video,
animation, and sound to
represent and convey
information Make
meaning from
educational materials or
experience.

5. Dimensions of Project-Based
Learning
 Project-based multimedia learning
has seven key dimensions: core
curriculum, real-world connection,
extended time frame, student
decision making, collaboration,
assessment, and multimedia.
 A strong unit, however, includes
them all.
 It's possible to have one of these
dimensions present.

6. Core Curriculum
 At the foundation of any
unit of this type is a clear
set of learning goals
Core Curriculum
drawn from whatever
curriculum or set of
standards is in use.
 Core emphasizes that
project-based multimedia
learning should address
the basic knowledge and
skills all students are
expected to acquire

These projects lend
themselves well to
multidisciplinary or cross- Multimedia Multidisciplinary
curricular approaches.

7. Real World Connection
o Real-world connection. project-based multimedia
learning strives to be real
o Seeks to connect the world to students’ work
o Types of activities, the types of products, or in other ways
(Content).
o Perceive what is real about the project (Critical)

8. Extended Time Frame
o Good project (not a one-shot lesson)
o Extends over a significant period of time.
o It may be days, weeks, or months
o May vary with the age of the students and the nature of
the project
o (Important) Students experience a succession of
challenges that culminates in a substantial final product
from
o They can derive pride and a clear sense of
accomplishment.

9. Student Decision Making
o Project-based multimedia learning- students have
an opinion
o Divide them into “teacher's” and “students'” based
on a clear rationale (decisions)
o Example: A teacher might limit students to a single
authoring program to minimize complications
o The teacher can allow students to determine what
substantive content would be included in their
projects.
o Students can make decisions about the form and
content of their final products, as well as the
process for producing them.

10. Collaboration and Assessment
o 3. Collaboration
Working together jointly to
accomplish a common intellectual
purpose. Students may work in pairs
or in teams. Whole-class
collaborations are also possible. The
goal is for each student involved to
make a separate contribution to the
final work and for the whole to be
greater than the sum of the parts.
o 4. Assessment
 Developing expectations
 Improving the media products
 Compiling and disseminating evidence of learning

11. Multimedia
 students do not learn simply by “using”
multimedia produced by others
 Learn by creating it themselves
 Programs as HyperStudio, Kid Pix, and
Netscape Composer-possible for students
become the authors of multimedia content.
 Not only gathering only written notes, they
but create pictures, video clips, recordings,
and other media objects that will later serve
as the raw material for their final product

12. Why Use Project-Based
Learning?
 Identifying, organizing, planning, and allocating time,
money, materials, and workers.
 Negotiating, exercising leadership, working with diversity,
teaching others new skills, serving clients and customers,
and participating as a team member.
 Selecting technology, applying technology to a task, and
maintaining and troubleshooting technology.

13. Why Use Project-Based
Learning?
Skills
math, reading, and
Hard problem-solving
skills mastered at a
much higher level
than previously
expected of high
school graduates
ability to work in
Soft group and make
effective
oral/written
presentations
Routine task such as
Computer word processing
Usage

14. Summary
 Project-based multimedia learning is one
instructional strategy that you can use in a school
year that may also include non-technical projects,
lecture and note-taking, rote practice, writing, and
artistic or creative work.
 What they will be doing includes:
 Planning and organizational skills
 Learning to present information in compelling ways
 Synthesizing and analyzing complex content and
data
 Practicing research and technical skills
 Learning how academic subject matter applies to
the real world

15. Related URLs to PBL
 http://www.edutopia.org
/project-based-learning
 http://www.rmcdenver.com/useguide/p
http://www.rmcdenver.com/useguide/