PBL (Project-Based Learning)

PBL is very common term in methodology. Every teacher nowadays should work on the curriculum, having PBL in it. The iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) gives the following definition to PBL:

In Project Based Learning, students are involved in individual and collaborative work to explore real-world problems and create presentations to share what they have learned. Students participate in projects and practice an interdisciplinary array of skills from math, language arts, fine arts, geography, science, and technology. As compared to learning from textbooks, this approach has many benefits for students, including:

• Deeper knowledge of subject matter;
• Increased self-direction and motivation;
• Improved research and problem-solving skills.

I agree with all the parts of the definition, as I use Project-Based Learning in my classroom. However, I don't think you, as a teacher, can do it on a regular basis. I mean, you can't just make your students work on the projects all the time. How many projects does an experienced teacher do with the students during the semester?
If you, as a teacher, make students work on the projects that are similar, do they still have the same level of motivation?

I was always wondering, if I were a student, would I be able to keep my motivation from one project to another...

Technology in the classroom. Strengths vs. weaknesses...

Hello,

My name is Tamar Karakozova. I am an ESL instructor at the University of Mississippi. I am working on my Master's thesis, which is on the topic: "Integrating technology in the classroom. Teaching reading and writing ."
I don't have a great teaching experience. I have been teaching for only four years now. Coming from the country of former Soviet Union, I wanted to learn as much as possible, that is why I have been observing and teaching classes at all age and grade levels from the time I arrived to the United States, in August, 2006.
I was very confused by the different teaching strategies here, could not find solutions to some problems I had when I had to deal with a class of young ESL learners. Summarizing my experience, I came to the conclusion that my work in the United States has always been challenging.
I teach ESL Lab. I am planning to graduate in December, 2007, and go back home, to Republic of Georgia. However, I am very confused by the fact, that I won't be able to use technology that much back home, and what am I going to do, when I will find myself in one of our schools, which does not have an internet connection, even if there are some computers around.
I have decided to ask for some suggestions on how to use technology in the classroom with limited opportunities.
Technology is a strength in a modern world, can we do without it? I guess, we could, but then, how about all my work here? My thesis?

Thank you very much for your comments.

Sincerely,

Tamar Karakozova