“I believe that education … is a process of living and not a preparation for future living.” - John Dewey (1859 - 1952)

“Project-based learning allows the teacher to incorporate numerous teaching and learning strategies into project planning and implementation. Assisting learners in developing all of their intelligences will make learning a part of living, not just a preparation for it. “

Project Based Learning makes it possible for educators and learners to move beyond traditional teaching and Learning strategies. These tend to concentrate on the verbal/linguistic and mathematical/logical intelligences alone.

In a well designed and implemented PBL activity, learners can be challenged to use some of the other intelligence modalities. The creative teacher can incorporate numerous teaching and learning strategies that allow for individual differences and variations in learning styles. In addition, all learners can be encouraged to develop their other intelligences.

Instead of focusing only on the traditional written assignment, PBL generally has as its outcome a model, presentation, etc. The learner whose kinesthetic intelligence modality is well developed, has a chance to demonstrate this in this activity.

Within the co-operative group work, learners with inter-personal intelligence will be able to exercise this intelligence to the full, and in so doing, encourage and assist others.

PBL allows learners who have well developed alternative intelligences to “shine”, but it also encourages all learners to develop alternative strategies, even if they are gifted in the traditional verbal and mathematical modalities.

We will look at this aspect in more depth later in the module. If you wish to read further now, click here:

Gardner's Multiple Intelligence theory
Multiple intelligences