Project-Based Science: Reflections of a Middle School Teacher

This article describes my experiences using the project-based science approach with 2 groups of seventh-grade students. I explain why I joined 10 veteran teachers and a group of university researchers in an effort to enhance the teaching of science. After identifying the key features of project-based science and describing the content and activities of the 2 project-based science units I taught, I discuss challenges I faced in implementing this approach. Time management presented the greatest difficulty. This included constraints imposed by district curriculum requirements, class period length, planning preparations, technology and telecommunication problems, and unit deadlines. Student collaboration and team cohesiveness also posed problems. I analyze how successfully the implementation of the units exemplified the project-based model. In the final sections I compare the strengths and weaknesses of my project-based and traditional science instruction. I decide that the "dividends" of project-based science are worth the energy and time "investment." However, I believe my students would benefit most from a project-based science approach if it were integrated into a school year punctuated by units of varying length, intensity, and learning styles. After acknowledging the new dimensions of student achievement stimulated by project-based science, I conclude that I could not be satisfied returning to a traditional approach to science teaching.