Alternative Education Model

The Possibilities of an Alternative Education Model
Which question is best to ask of a student: “What cities did the United States drop an atomic bomb on to end the war with Japan?” or “Was President Truman correct in ordering the Army to drop the atomic bomb on Japan? Defend your answer.”
The first question is an example of project based learning. The second, is a problem based learning example. Dr. Campbell of Teacher Magazine says “ Both problem-based and project-based learning have their place in today’s classroom and can promote 21st Century learning.” Project based learning, however, is the main education model that is implemented within the modern K-12 pedagogy. Problem based learning, which is an arguably better education model, is

In short, no. There is no backed evidence proving that one is better than the other. Though, what draws educators to problem based learning, specifically, is it’s messiness. There are no pre-defined outcomes. If students were asked to build a large bridge, connecting one town to the other for commuter access, the idea is not just about the end result of a built bridge, but to bring in more real-life outcomes to conquer the problem. Where will the bridge be built, what kind of bridge, who will be affected and so on.
Concordia University in Portland, Oregon says “Having students gather potential problems themselves offers a key opportunity to increase their metacognitive awareness of course outcomes or standards. They can gather their problems and then defend them as applicable to curriculum by illustrating potential areas of learning in their project.” Which is to say, that students are getting in touch with their own morals and given an opportunity to choose what they may interpret as either right or wrong. These opinions of interests, however, may change over

So why not scribble it straight into the pedagogical curriculum? What’s the wait for?
The Time and Energy
Educators and society as a whole have been asking for major reconstruction of the education system. Something that succeeds with common core standards, requires critical thinking and involves more real world problem-solving. However, there are bigger decisions and politics involved.
Teaching problem based learning will take time to introduce as a way of critical thinking. The confusion for students lies where there is no correct answer, the confusion for the teacher is knowing how to grade this type of work. The riskiest part of implementing this model may perhaps be the ethics involved. Involving ethics and morals into schoolwork may bring up an assortment of issues.
It doesn’t have to be one model or the other. Both problem and project models can be worked into the curriculum side by side. For educators, it’s finding a balance in grading, teaching and helping students form an answer based on