THE PROJECT METHOD

SOURCES:
• PRINCIPLES AND METHODS OF TEACHING – FRANSISCO M. ZULUETA
• https://scholar.lib.vt.edu
• http://www.studylecturenotes.com
• https://www.encyclopedia.com
• https://brainly.in
• https://en.wikipedia.org
• http://www.educationengland.org.uk
 OUTLINE
I. PROJECT METHOD.

II. WHAT ARE ITS CHARACTERISTICS? (STEPS AND TYPES AND

STRATEGY)

III. WHO INTRODUCED PROJECT METHOD?

IV. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES.

V. CONCLUSION.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
What is a project, pedagogically speaking?

It is a “wholehearted purposeful act carried on amid social

surroundings” (Kilpatrick, ibid., p. 5).

Method – instructional method that is, orderly, logical and

systematic procedure in doing something especially in the
sciences or the art of teaching.
 PROJECT METHOD
“THIS METHOD IS A PROBLEMATIC ACTIVITY, CARRIED
ON IN A NATURAL SETTING AND INVOLVING THE
UTILIZATION OF PHYSICAL MATERIALS, IN A
CONSTRUCTIVE WAY.”

“THE PROJECT METHOD IS A TEACHER-FACILITATED

COLLABORATIVE APPROACH IN WHICH STUDENTS
ACQUIRE AND APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO
DEFINE AND SOLVE REALISTIC PROBLEMS USING A
PROCESS OF EXTENDED INQUIRY.”
 CHARACTERISTICS
A. “IT IS PROBLEMATIC IN NATURE.”
B. “IT IS PLANNED AND THE ACTIVITY SHOULD BE
EXECUTED AND COMMUNICATED BY THE LEARNERS.”
C. “THE ACTIVITY SHOULD BE PURPOSEFUL, NATURAL
AND IMPORTANT.”

Or “A project method classroom focuses on

democracy and collaboration to solve "purposeful"
problems.”
 STEPS
1. PURPOSING – THIS STEP DETERMINES THE NATURE AND THE
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT.

2. PLANNING – SUGGESTIONS BETWEEN THE STUDENTS AND HE

TEACHERS ARE DRAWN UPON ENTHUSIASTICALLY AND WILLINGLY,
WHICH WILL DETERMINE THEIR ROLE.

3. EXECUTING – THIS IS THE STEP WHERE ACTIVITIES ARE ENVISIONED

BY THE CLASS OR GROUP WITH COOPERATIVE EFFORT.

4. EVALUATING – THE LAST AND FINAL STEP WHEREIN THE PROJECT IS

TO BE DISPLAYED TO THE PUBLIC AND EVALUATED BY THE TEACHER.
 STRATEGY
Principle of Utility - Choose those projects which are closer to the social
life.
Principle of readiness - Involve the learners in finding the solution of the
problem with their active participation.
Learning by Doing - Learner performs certain tasks and experiences new
things. This adds to his knowledge and results in learning.
Socialization - It develops the feeling of cooperation and group work.
Inter-disciplinary Approach - To involve the knowledge of different
subjects in solving the social problems.
 TYPES
1. CONSTRUCTIVE PROJECT – When learners have to
construct some things related to social life. e.g.
charts, models, maps, parcels etc.

2. ARTISTIC PROJECT – These projects are generally

allotted in the aesthetic fields of life. e.g. in music,
drawing, painting art and culture.
 TYPES
3. PROBLEM-SOLVING PROJECT – These projects are
given to solve the problems related to any life-situation
or related to any subject e.g. how to operate bank
accounts? Or how to send an email or letter. These
general problems if solved, will make a child efficient
for social-life.

4. GROUP WORK PROJECT – A team of students is

assigned a work to be performed. e.g. to develop a
garden in the school.
 WHO INTRODUCED THE PROJECT METHOD?
IN SEPTEMBER 1918, WILLIAM H. KILPATRICK
PUBLISHED THE SHORT ESSAY “THE PROJECT
METHOD” WHICH “CATAPULTED [HIM] TO FAME”
BUT KILPATRICK’S THOUGHTS DID NOT COME
OUT OF THE BLUE.

THE EDUCATIONAL IDEA OF THE PROJECT HAD

ALREADY GAINED A FOOTHOLD IN THE UNITED
STATES MORE THAN THREE DECADES EARLIER,
MOST STRONGLY IN MANUAL TRAINING
SCHOOLS AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS FOR THE
AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONS.
IN THAT ARTICLE KILPATRICK PROVIDED A PRACTICAL
APPROACH TO IMPLEMENTING JOHN DEWEY'S
EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY.

DRAWING ON DEWEY'S EARLIER WORK, INTEREST

AND EFFORT, HE ATTEMPTED TO DEMONSTRATE HOW
STUDENTS COULD ENGAGE IN PURPOSEFUL ACTIVITY
AT THE INTELLECTUAL, PHYSICAL, AND AFFECTIVE
LEVELS.
 ADVANTAGES
It helps in developing social norms and social values among
the learners.

It provides invaluable opportunities for correlation of

various elements of the subject matter and for transfer of
training or learning.

It helps in growing knowledge very effectively as a results of

their close cooperation on social participation in the spirit of
democracy
 DISADVANTAGES
The project cannot be planned for all subjects and
whole subject matter cannot be taught by this
strategy.

It is not economical from the point of view of time

and cost.

It is very difficult for a teacher to plan or to execute

the projects to the learners and supervise them.
 CONCLUSION
“Students in a project method environment are allowed to
explore and experience their environment through their
senses. It is directed by their own learning by their individual
interests.

Very little is taught from textbooks and the emphasis is on

experiential learning, rather than rote and memorization.

Made more known by William Heard Kilpatrick. - “Its goal is

to socialize a child or learner and to achieve cognitive,
affective and psychomotor objectives.”