Thinking with Technology

Well-designed projects encourage active inquiry and higher-order thinking (Thomas, 1998), and address curriculum standards through relevant tasks that ensure that learners understand the essential concepts. Brain research underscores the value of these learning activities. Learners' abilities to acquire new understanding are enhanced when they are "connected to meaningful problem-solving activities, and when learners are helped to understand why, when, and how those facts and skills are relevant" (Bransford, Brown, & Conking, 2000, p. 23).

While many definitions of and degrees of project-based approaches in projects exist, most definitions have a common set of characteristics. Click here to read about nine of these characteristics.

Thinking with Technology Module 2 - Aligning Projects with Assessment Standards

	Activity 2.2 Exploring Project Design Well-designed projects encourage active inquiry and higher-order thinking (Thomas, 1998), and address curriculum standards through relevant tasks that ensure that learners understand the essential concepts. Brain research underscores the value of these learning activities. Learners' abilities to acquire new understanding are enhanced when they are "connected to meaningful problem-solving activities, and when learners are helped to understand why, when, and how those facts and skills are relevant" (Bransford, Brown, & Conking, 2000, p. 23). Step 1: Understanding the Characteristics of Well-Designed Projects While many definitions of and degrees of project-based approaches in projects exist, most definitions have a common set of characteristics. Click here to read about nine of these characteristics. Next: Proceed to Step 2 of Activty 2.2