Environmental Education

By khan

Key
words; project method, Merits of Project Method, Demerits of Project Method, what is project method, six
features of Project Method, project method of teaching

 Project
method

The project method is an
educational teaching method which is expensive and time consuming method. In this
            method children solve a
practical problem over a period of several days or weeks. It involves projects
like publishing school newspaper or journal, experiments on rocket, software
problems or any other science or social projects which may be suggested by the
teacher or by students. All these projects are planned and executed by the
students themselves, individually or in groups. The focus of Project method is
on applying, not imparting knowledge or skills. Project method helps in improving
student involvement in practical and motivation to encourage independent
thinking, social responsibility and self-confidence.

Project method has two basic
approaches for implementing the project method in educational institutions. In
older approach, two steps are used carryout projected: in step one, they are
taught a certain course, skills and facts in a systematic way, and then they are
asked to apply these skills and knowledge, creatively. In the second approach,
the teacher gives them all necessary information. In other words the students
choose the project, and then they discuss it with teacher what to do and how to
do, in process they learn the required techniques and concepts. After that the
students execute the chosen project by themselves. In both methods, time for
reflection should be provided during all phases of project. It will give
students the opportunity to evaluate their progress.

The
classical approach has six features;

1.    Impact

In project method approach,
in a short period of time, idea of project pass through all stages from an idea
to implementation and analysis of the results.

2. Activity

The student has the right to
make assumptions, make mistakes in the process, to gain practical knowledge and
apply it in different situations, the final result and the success of the project
give them pride and happiness.

3. Independence

In project method the role of the teacher is like an adviser and guide for
their pupils. The teacher is no more a bearer in the acquisition of knowledge,
but he is becoming a coordinators and consultants who guide children in the
right direction and provide them all the help they need in the field of study.

4. Practicality

In project method it
provides children practical experiences, for which they do not have real
opportunity in a regular school environment. It gives them self-motivation and
understanding of why they gain knowledge and how this knowledge can be applied
in the real life situations.

5. Critical Thinking

The world is constantly changing, the career roadmap set years ahead, is now
obsolete. Entirely new professions are emerging very fast. In this moving world
search for new information is very easy with the development of the Internet, now
the subject knowledge from a teacher has no more necessary, but rather to
develop the skill of critical thinking and the ability to look for non-standard
solutions.

6. Competence

A student doesn’t obtain his skill passively, but he performs specific tasks
under the guidance of a professional teacher. A saying that “education is life
itself and not a mere preparation for later living,” now students update their
mathematical knowledge to have the skill of critical thinking, which is the important
and wise Competence of all.

Merits of Project Method

Every method has advantages
and disadvantages, following are the advantages of project method.

·        
The freedom to execute a project by
themselves using their skills and abilities, it fulfill their psychological
needs.

·        
Project method is not only subject centered,
but it also gives importance to students’ activities Students are given freedom
to choose their projects, as a result they use their abilities to maximum
possible extent.

·        
Project method provide students various
opportunities through which they can satisfy their desires and fun.

·        
Project method develops critical thinking in students.
But with use of this scientific method the students also solve various problems
by this method.

·        
With project method, students get the chances
to develop coordination among their body and mind. Which lead to a well-balanced
personality and mental health

·        
Project method is very good for teaching of
science; the selected project method correlates with the real life problems, which
students confront in everyday life.

·        
Project method helps students in social
interaction and co-operation in society, as they will have used to group activities
and interact with other students and persons for gathering information. That
leads to social cooperation.

·        
Through project method students get knowledge
directly through their own efforts, as a result the information they acquire in
the process are permanent, which they can retain for a long period of time.

·        
Project method reduce student homework
because mostly of these projects are classroom assignments.

Demerits of Project Method

Following are the
disadvantages of project method:

·        
Project method is a time consuming method, on
the other hand time available with the teacher is limited in the schools, and
therefore it is difficult to use of this method in class.

·        
 This
method is not practical in nature. It is not possible complete all projects for
different topics in limited time with too many subjects in a year. 

·        
Project method need highly knowledgeable
teacher alert and gifted. The responsibility of teacher teaching using Project
method is mufti-folded. He provides the students all the necessary and guidance
through they can execute the project successfully.

·        
One can’t give comprehensive and adequate
learning by this method, as it is a method of incidental learning. To complete
the subject curricula on time in systematic way, this method an additional
method to do the job.

·        
The utility of this method remain limited,
because generally it is found that teachers do not possess the skills and
information regarding this method therefore they hesitate to use this method.

Project method has some
serious limitations; therefore it is not possible to use this method alone in
science teaching. The best way is to use mix method approach, Teacher needs to
use other methods of teaching as well with project method.  Project method can be used as a supplement
teaching method along other methods