Project Method

Dr. Shweta Singh

Assistant Professor, MIMT

According to John Alford Stevenson,

“A project is a problematic act carried to the completion in its natural settling”.
Ballord defines, “A project is a bit of real life that has been imported into the
school”,
Dr. William Head Kilpatrick defines that, “A project is a whole hearted purposeful
activity proceeding in a social environment”.
A project is an activity-based method which provides learners with real life
experiences. It is a problematic act carried out in natural setting. This method
provides opportunity to integrate the features of many other methods like field
visit, activity based method, cooperative learning etc.
They can be of two types-
One, when some static or working model is made as in science or social science.
Second is the investigatory project where some research or survey is done and then
a report is made based on the findings.
Main Principles of Project Method
 The Principle of Purpose: Knowledge of purpose is a great stimulus which
motivates the child to realize his/her goal. The student must have a purpose.
‘Why is he doing certain things?’ Purpose motivates learning. Interest
cannot be aroused by aimless and meaningless activities.
 The Principle of Activity: Opportunities should be provided to students that
make them active and learn things by doing. Physical as well as mental
activities are to be provided to them. They are to be allowed to ‘do’ and to
‘live through doing’.
 The Principle of Experience: Experience is the best teacher. What is learnt
must be experienced. The children learn new facts and information through
experience/
 The Principle of Social Experience: The child is a social being and we have
to prepare the student for social life. Training for a corporate life must be
given to him. In the project method, the students work in groups.
 The Principle of Reality: Life is real and education to be meaningful must be
real. The project method is a method of education the child and therefore,
it must also be real. Real life situations should be presented in the life of the
school.
 Principal of Utility: The learned knowledge must serve the immediate needs
of the students in their present life. It is necessary that the project method
must be useful to the present needs.
 Principal of Freedom: In Project Method, learning takes place naturally. So,
students perform activities freely.
Steps for the implementation of Project Method
The steps followed in project work in group situation are given below.
1) Identify the problem
2) Define the problem through thinking about it and sorting out the relevant
information
3) Explore solutions through looking at alternatives, brainstorming, and checking
out different points of view
4) Act on the strategies
5) Look back and evaluate the effects of your activity
6) Report Writing

Advantages of Project Method

● The project method is based on the principles of active learning. The student
gets totally involved in the activity which helps in enhancing his/her knowledge,
understanding and skills in real life situation and ultimately in developing a holistic
personality.
● Since all the activities of a project are related to the real life experiences, each
of such activities is meaningful to the student. Therefore, meaningful learning is
always associated with the project method.
● The student enjoys full freedom in conducting a project. This develops self-
confidence to act and also promotes a sense of responsibilities among the
students.
● The student gets acquainted with the types of work which he/she is expected to
perform in future. Thus, the project method helps the student in his/her
preparation for a future life.
● The student gets the scope to imbibe several social qualities like cooperation,
and team work, group affinity, and sacrifice through project work.
● Interest and motivation for the project activities are spontaneously created and
no external persuasion or force is needed to attract the students toward learning.
● Completion of the project gives individuals a sense of accomplishment which in
turn encourages the student for further learning.
Disadvantages/Limitations
 Execution of this method requires good amount of money, so this method is
expensive.
 Takes a lot of time, so the entire syllabus cannot be completed by this
method.
 Too much expectation from the teacher right from planning to completion.
 Not helpful in providing systematic and adequate learning.
 Course size, class size and examination system are some practical issues that
pose a problem while implementation of this method.