International Journal of Language and Translation Research

Project-Based Learning: Opportunities VS. Challenges

Authors

1 Department of English Language, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran

2 Department of English Language, Islamic Azad University, Kerman Branch, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

Project-based learning (PBL) has generated considerable research interest during recent decades. As a constructivist and learner-centered approach, PBL engages students in hands-on activities and prepares them for real life. The purpose of the present review is to probe into the status of PBL in teaching English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) and its opportunities and challenges. Previous research has reported some benefits as well as pitfalls for the implementation of PBL. Specifically speaking, students can benefit from PBL because it triggers their motivation, engagement, creativity, communicative skills, and the development of critical thinking skills. However, there are some studies that highlighted the drawbacks of PBL such as classroom management, shortage of professional teachers, and students’ adaptation to their new role in PBL. Noteworthy to mention is that a substantial body of research has confirmed that the merits of PBL implementation outweigh its drawbacks. The learning model proposed by Mergendoller and Thomas (2005) provides a well-defined framework that can greatly minimize the challenges of PBL by providing clear structures to the teachers and clarifying different stages and learning objectives. Such a framework can also be beneficial to the students in adjusting to their new roles in PBL. The study ultimately concludes that teachers and researchers can hope for promising results if the adoption of PBL is carefully planned and carried out in different educational settings.

Keywords

Article Title [Persian]

یادگیری پروژه محور: فرصت ها وچالش ها

Abstract [Persian]

 در دهه های اخیرپژوهشهای زیادی در خصوص یادگیری پروژه محور انجام شده است. این نوع یادگیری به عنوان یک رویکرد دانش آموز محور و ساختارگرایانه دانش آموزان را درگیر فعالیتهای عملی نموده و آنها را برای رویارویی با زندگی واقعی آماده می سازد. هدف از مطالعه مروری حاضر بررسی وضعیت یادگیری پروژه محور در آموزش زبان انگلیسی و هم چنین درک موقعیتها و چالشهای این نوع آموزش است. پژوهشهای پیشین مزایا و معایب یادگیری پروژه محور را گزارش کرده اند که به عنوان مثال میتوان به افزایش انگیزه، مشارکت، خلاقیت، مهارتهای ارتباطی و هم چنین تفکر انتقادی اشاره نمود. هر چند برخی مطالعات، مشکلاتی نظیر مدیریت کلاس، کمبود مدرسان حرفه ای، و تطبیق دانش آموزان با نقشهای جدید خود در آموزش پروژه محور را گزارش کرده اند. شایان ذکر است که تحقیق های قابل توجهی تایید کننده مزایای یادگیری پروژه محور نسبت به معایب آن میباشند. مدل یادگیری پیشنهاد شده توسط مرگن دولر و توماس (2005) چارچوب معینی را توسط دستورالعملهای خاص و تبیین مراحل مختلف و اهداف آموزشی برای مدرسان را ارائه مینماید که این چارچوب به نوبه خود چالشهای یادگیری پروژه محور را به حداقل کاهش می دهد. این چارچوب به زبان آموزان نیز کمک خواهد کرد که با نقشهای جدید خود در رویکرد پروژه محور سازگار شوند. مطالعه حاضر در نهایت بیانگر این نتیجه است که در صورتی که رویکرد پروژه محور با دقت لازم طراحی و مورد استفاده قرار گیرد می تواند نتایج امیدبخشی را در پی داشته باشد.
 

Keywords [Persian]

  • یادگیری پروژه محور
  • محیطهای آموزشی
  • موقعیتها
  • چالشها
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International Journal of Language and Translation Research
Volume 2, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
ISBN 9783899664812
December 2022
Pages 79-108
  • Receive Date: 26 July 2022
  • Revise Date: 15 September 2022
  • Accept Date: 08 November 2023