Chapter 11

Despite the fact that we are coming to a close in our readings of Re-inventing Project-Based Learning, our learning has only began. The final step in our PBL unit is unpacking. This entails the wrap up of our project and finally bringing the lesson 'back home.' This chapter does a great job of providing ways to wrap our project up. Some  ways to 'bring your project home' include a reflection piece, which involves students identifying with what they have done but also for them to identify with things they could have done differently for better results or what next steps that need to be taken in the project as we move on. Criticism of the project is not only important for students but also for teachers who can use this criticism as guideline for the next classroom. We can share our insights with our greater learning community for both students and teachers and it can be used as a resource for other teacher so they can use this project as a resource.

Benefits of PBL units are that they prepare students on how to deal with real-world problems. Students can choose what they want to learn which only drives their interest in the topic even more. Because PBL units are inquiry-based they are essentially teaching themselves the content and this is what makes PBL units memorable and ever-informative. There were many instances in the book where students who participated in PBL units were able to recall past lessons because of the unique nature of them. Another benefit of PBL units includes the opportunities for collaboration and making connections. Students will learn how to collaborate which is essential in every field of work and will make them more prepared to use these skills in the future. All these things will contribute to an active learning environment and better students. This is what our project is all about and being knowledgeable about these things will make our project better for both the student and teacher.