EDEL 490
EDEL 595

Introduction Module

1. On the Project Approach web site read the section on Foundation Theory: Learning, Teaching & the Classroom.

2. Read: Introduction and definition: Katz, L.G. (1994) The Project Approach. ERIC Digest.

3. Read: Katz, L. G. and Chard, S.C. (1989) Engaging Children's Minds: The Project Approach. Chapters 1 & 2.

4. Read: Chard, S.C. (1998) The Project Approach: Making Curriculum Come Alive. The First 4 chapters: 

   1. Introduction: The Purpose and Organization of this Book, 

   2. Learning: The Curriculum and the Child, 

   3. Teaching and Learning as Interactive Processes, 

   4. The Classroom: An Environment for Learning

5. Read: Chard, S.C. (1998) The Project Approach: Managing Successful Projects. Scholastic. Chapter 1. Introductory chapter: Getting the most from this book.

6. Reflect on your own teaching in relation to implementing the Project Approach.

7. Communicate with other course participants on the WebBoard.

Please refer to the Doing the Work section of Module 1 for full details on getting this work done.

1. Decide on the topic for your own project and inform me of your topic by email.
2. Design a topic web.
3. Design a curriculum web.
4. Write a message to the WebBoard explaining your choice of topic for your own project assignment.
5. Describe your topic web in a message to the WebBoard.
6. Contribute any ideas you can to the web descriptions of other students in the course.
7. Plan some of the Key Events in the project.
8. Begin to centers for project work.

Please refer to the Doing the Work section of Module 2 for full details on getting this work done.

1. Introduce the topic of study in the classroom.
2. Find out the experiences the children have had relevant to the topic of the project.
3. Find out what the children know about the topic.
4. Find out what the children wonder about the topic.
5. Help the children to formulate questions about the topic.
6. Invite children to represent their experiences in different ways; provide center facilities for this work where appropriate.
7. Help children to investigate the experience of other classmates.
8. Set expectations for standards of work in negotiation with the children.
9. Use the bulletin boards in the classroom to display the children's work.
10. Send a letter home telling families about the topic of study.
11. Establish a common baseline of understanding about the topic for the class.

Please refer to the Doing the Work section of Module 3 for full details on getting this work done.

1. Make a preliminary visit to assess the potential of a field site and prepare personnel.
2. Teach children to observe and make field notes.
3. Teach children to interview experts.
4. Take children to a field site.
5. Evaluate the fieldwork achieved.
6. Assess the children's interests.
7. Design follow-up activities for the children in the classroom.
8. Modify the centers: add materials, props, artifacts  and real objects.

Please refer to the Doing the Work section of Module 4 for full details on getting this work done.

1. Plan and monitor investigations and representations with the children.

2. Document the life of the project as it continues to develop in your classroom.

3. Invite experts on the topic to the classroom.

4. Use the topic web to keep track of the overall picture.

5. Assess the work and learning of individual children.

6. Monitor the development of each child's folder of project work.

7. Develop displays of children's work

8. Communicate the progress of your project to class members on the WebBoard.

9. Discuss issues, concerns, dilemmas, surprises and problem solving strategies.

Please refer to the Doing the Work section of Module 5 for full details on getting this work done.

1. Document the multistage work of individual children and groups

2. Elaborate and add to the resources to help the children with their work

3. Encourage confidence, autonomy and self-reliance in children

4. Reflect in discussion with the children on the progress of the work

5. Invite children to share their ideas and suggestions to improve work

6. Help children to provide models for one another in their own areas of expertise

7. Invite volunteers to help in your classroom, parents, grandparents, others…

Please refer to the Doing the Work section of Module 6 for full details on getting this work done.

Phase 3 - Concluding the Project

1. Manage Phase 3 and bring the project to a close

2. Plan a culminating event

3. Involve the children in the planning the event

4. Encourage children to do any work they still want to try before the end of the project.

5. Stimulate the children's imagination with literature

6. Collect parents' impressions of the project.

7. Share information about the third phase of your project with colleagues on the WebBoard.

8. Complete your summative evaluation of the project and submit together with the full documentation for your assignment in this course.

Please refer to the Doing the Work section of Module 7 for full full details on getting this work done.

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