Christine Hill conducted action research at Highland Park High School to study the effects of incorporating project-based learning into freshman chemistry and physics classes. She found that assigning group projects that required hands-on experiments and collaboration led students to become more critical readers, careful observers, and sharper thinkers. The projects encouraged participation from all group members and demonstrated that the work of a team can be greater than the sum of individual efforts.

1. Project-Based Education in Freshman Chemistry/Physics Analysis by Howard Branch UMUC EDTP 600 – Fall 2011

2. Action Research School Highland Park high School Highland Parl, IL Teacher/Researcher/Author Christine Hill Students Freshman in Chemistry/Physics

3. Main Idea Projects+Student= a) Critical readers b) Careful observers c) Sharper thinkers d) All the above

4. Group Project The whole is greater than the Sum of it parts Two (or more) heads are better than one; if they all participate

5. Lecture, Video Hands-on Experiments Which would you prefer?

6. APA Citation Hill, Christine (1996). Project-Based Education in Freshman Chemistry/Physics . Retrieved from Highland Park High School Action Research Laboratory website: “http://hphs.dist113.org/Academics/Pages/ActionResearch.aspx”