Dear EFL teachers, This week we are going to explore the wonderful world of online project based teaching and learning. Using projects in EFL classes requires complex tasks, based on challenging questions or problems, that involve students in design, problem-solving, decision making, or investigative activities. Online EFL projects give students the opportunity to work relatively autonomously over extended periods of time and culminate in realistic products or presentations. This way, project work encourages motivation, fosters group cohesiveness, and increases expectancy of success in target language, achieving the combination of academic and social goals through language use. Let's step into the world of projects, and discover an alternative efficient EFL teaching approach. |
Task 1. Study the resources below and give your own definition of what PBL (Project Based Learning) is and what its major advantages are.
a) Project based learning explained.
b) Five keys to PBL.
c) The basics of PBL.
d) iEARN Teddy Bear Project
e) iEARN Tulip Project
Task 2. Let's analyse how American Councils Moldova implements Project Based Instruction as part of its Access Microscholarship Program. Analyze the projects listed below, choose 2 projects you liked the most, and identify their comprising elements, such as: · Target problems the project addresses; · Project goals from civic and EFL teaching perspectives; · Project beneficiaries; · Project partners; · Project finalities from civic and EFL teaching perspectives; · Students’ English level (beginner, elementary, pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper-intermediate, advanced). Share your findings as a comment to this blog assignment. “A Letter to Santa Clause” “Access Youth in Action” Flashmob “Save the Planet with a Planted Flower” “Sharing is Caring” “Talking Kites Around the World” “Informing the Mihai Eminescu Community” “ A New Life for Sport and Youth” |
Task 3: The process of developing a project requires from the teacher to be familiar with all stages of a project preparation, and of course, select appropriate project procedures and expected outcomes. a. Consult the following links:
b. Post your reflections on the following: · What project topic(s) and finalities /outcomes would be more appropriate to your students’ level and your teaching style (maximum 5 phrases)? · What challenge(s) might come along in developing and implementing Project Based Instruction with your students (maximum 5 phrases)? |
“Making Changes through Social Theater”
“Making Changes through Youth-Civic Engagement Projects”
“My Place , Your Place”
“The Great Student Blog Project”
“Student Blogging Project”
Task 5: Study the resources below and create a project assignment for your students related to one of the topics you will be teaching in January or February. 1) Feel free to create your own project or choose one from iEARN or Access Microscholarship resources. 2) Follow the project template below. 3) Post the assignment on your blog and place the link below, as a comment to this assignment. Resources:
Project assignment template: · Project Title; · Students’ level; · Project idea; · Driving question; · EFL Content Skills and Standards; · Collaborative Final Products (Use one of the online tools you studied as part of our EFL Blogging School, for e.g. an online poster on glogster.com representing the impact of the national diversity on culture) ; · Local & Global Audience; · Project Steps and schedule; · Needed materials and resources for each stage; · Students’ outcomes for each stage (for e.g., a 10-question quiz). |