Projects are real life activities
that require detailed planning, procedures for working and usually
collaboration. Projects usually entail learning something new, answering an
interesting research question, and doing something meaningful. There is always a
product at the end. In general, the easier the project, the more structured it needs to be.
Primary
characteristics of project work:
1. Project work focuses on themes
rather than on specific language structures.
2. Project work is student centered.
3. Project work is usually cooperative rather
than competitive.
4. Project work leads to
authentic integrations of skills and processing of information.
5. Project work leads to an end
product but its value lies also in the process of working towards the end point.
Project output can be accumulated in a student's personal portfolio.
6. Project work is potentially
motivating and challenging.
Project work -
variations:
Many factors determine the type of a
project: curricular objectives, students' proficiency levels, students'
interests, time constraints, and availability of materials.
Projects incorporate all four domains
of language learning:
* Social
Interaction Pupils develop communication skills, both orally and in
writing.
* Access to
Information While researching their chosen topic, pupils are
exposed to oral and written texts from a variety of sources.
*
Presentation Pupils can choose how to present their project in a
variety of formats in spoken and written English.
* Appreciation
of Literature, Culture and Language Through the process of research
students gain cultural, historical and social insight.
Types of Data
Collections:
Research
Projects require gathering of information through library, news
media, or
the Internet.
Correspondence
Projects require communication with
individuals to gather information
through letters, faxes, phone calls, or electronic mail.
Survey Projects entail
creating a survey instrument and then collecting and analyzing the
data.
Encounter Projects
result in face-to-face contact with
guest speakers outside the classroom.
* based on the Israeli New
Curriculum & ETJ 54, June, 2002.
Time Frame
Projects can be carried out
intensively over a short period of time or extended over a few weeks, or a full
sememster.
A Suggested Template
of a Project
(To print this version
in HTML click
here. To print this
version in Word click here).
Step 1: Choose a topic & decide
what you want to find out.
What is your general topic?
Narrow down your topic
. Think about a
subject you would like to explore.
What do you know about the subject?
What do you want to learn about the
subject?
Why are you interested in this topic?
Write a question that you would like
to answer.
Step 2: Cooperation
Who will you work with?
Step 3: Time
How much time will you do the
project?
Step 4: Place
Where will you work on the project?
At class, at home or somewhere else?
Step 5: Finding information
Where will you find the information
that you need?
What exactly will you look for?
If you need to talk to people - who
will you talk to?
Step 6: Documenting Information
Make sure you keep all your drafts! They
count towards your grade! Learn how to summarize -
click
here.
Step 7: Final Project
In which way/s will you present your findings?
oral
presentation
poster
session
bulletin board
displa
travel
itineraries
Power
Point/computer presentation
report
radio
program
letter
food
fair
stage
debate
stage
performance
newspaper
brochure
fashion
show
other
Step 8: Assessment
Your project will be assessed
by your teacher both for process and product.
The following is a sample project
rubric:
Criteria
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Understanding the main idea
Clear evidence of understanding
the main idea
Good understanding of the
topic
Little understanding of the
topic
Research methods
relevant, valid & reliable
somewhat relevant
hardly relevant
Group work
Each member contributed his/her
share
Group worked well most of the
time
Not everyone contributed to the
product
Language
Fluent and no spelling
mistakes. Correct punctuation & grammar.
Somewhat fluent. Some spelling
& punctuation mistakes.
Not fluent. Many spelling &
punctuation mistakes,
Presentation
Very aesthetic
Reasonably presented
Not aesthetic
The following link is another sample
of a project rubric - click
here.
