Strengthen ABE Language Acquisition through Project Based Learning

By Diana McIntyre, Nevada State Leadership-Professional Development Coordinator

Project Based Learning (PBL) is a powerful strategy for classroom activity that allows students to meet standards while collaboratively focusing on relevant student-centered projects.  Project Based Learning allows student learning to go beyond the classroom and address real world issues while using unlimited imagination and working together to answer a driving question that they themselves generate.  Moreover, Project Based Learning prepares students for the workplace as they work together to achieve shared goals.

For example, students might elect to examine how to save a local lake:  What is the best way to reduce the nitrogen in Virginia Lake?  A real-world problem that captured student interest would involve meaningful tasks, thinking like a scientist, knowledge acquisition, deep discussion with peers, and ongoing assessment of student learning experiences.

Importantly, the PBL teacher serves as coach and facilitator, often involving community, experts and colleagues to make the most of learning experiences.  Subjects are seamlessly integrated and lead students to naturally apply knowledge of more than one content area.  What is more, students naturally welcome the challenge of embedded 21st century competencies: critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, communication, and creativity to name a few.  Academically rigorous PBL involves students becoming fully engrossed in their work as they investigate and develop arguments for the question(s) they are seeking to answer.  For instance, interdisciplinary skills of literacy, thinking, numeracy, geography, and research is integrated in the common theme of how to save Virginia Lake. 

Literacy is taught through close reading of complex text and its embedded academic vocabulary (at or just above the students’ reading level); reading, writing, speaking and listening are naturally grounded in evidence in text (including local newspaper articles), journaling, research, defending responses, and argumentative writing; knowledge is expanded through informational and non-fiction reading.  Math could be imparted through focused research, data collection, graphing, challenging problem solving skills, math talks, and coherence to the theme.  Science is conveyed through geography and climate studies, bird studies, water study, research, journaling, collaborative problem solving, and critical thinking.

Nevada Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs should take advantage of PBL and support students in their quest for delving deeper into a chosen topic of interest.  Furthermore, PBL appeals to all learning styles and actively involves the learner in purposeful academic tasks.  As a result, students will be more engaged, better remember the content, and more well-prepared for the workforce.