Project Method & Problem Solving Method

PROJECT METHOD

The project method is based on John Dewey's programmatic philosophy of experimentalism. It was
well developed and perfected by Dr. William Head Kilpatric of the University of Columbia. It has
brought tremendous change in classroom transaction. John Dewey said that education should not
only be for life but through life. He was keenly aware of gap between pupil's life in school and life in
society. He insisted that in an efficient educational system, this gap should be bridged. The project
method is an attempt to bring society into the school.

Definitions of Project Method

• W.H. Kilpatric: "Project is a whole hearted purposeful activity. proceeding in a social environment."
• J.A. Stevenson: A project is a problematic act carried to completion in its natural setting".
• Balland: "A project is a bit of real life that has been imported into the school".
• Burton: "The problem is a project which results in doing. The motor element is not what makes the
activity a project, but the problem- solving a practical nature accompanying the activity".

Types of projects: Kilpatrick classified projects as.

a) "The producer Type : Project results in production of a material object or article. For example
preparation of models of houses, monuments etc.
b) The consumer Type: Project provides experience and enjoyment to children. For example
participation in drama, reading and learning stories etc.
c) The problem type : Project results in solving a problem. For example project to take up remedial
measures to maintain cleanliness in school and classroom.
d) The drill Type': Project results in attaining skills. For example a project on drawing maps.

Thus the project involves intellectual activities as well as manipulative activities

Basic Principles of Project Method

> Principle of Purpose: The project must be purposeful. Students should be aware of the purpose of
the project which they are undertaking. Then only they are involved in it with interest.
> Principal of Activity: since it is a learner centered method, it provides various intellectual and
physical activities to children.
> Principle of Reality: pragmatism emphasizes education for life. Consequently, this method insists
on learning in real life situations. So, Children undertake activities in real situations.
> Principle of Experience: experience is a byproduct of activity. During the project work, students learn
to cooperate, respect others opinions and work with team spirit. This experience is valuable for
democratic citizenship.
> Principle of Freedom: In this method, students work with freedom. They are free to choose activities
according to their interest, abilities and carry them.
> Principle of Utility: The knowledge gained through activities must be useful to students. The project
method develops various attitudes and values which are of great significance from a practical point
of view.

Steps in Project Method

Providing a Situation: The first step in the project method is to provide a situation wherein the
students feel a spontaneous urge to carry out a particular project. Teachers should discover the
interests, abilities and needs of the students and create the situations by discussions, telling stories,
showing pictures or taking them out for field trips. This makes them think and choose the activity.

Choosing a Project: After the situation has been provided or problems presented, the second step is
the choice of the project. An intelligent and alert teacher guides the students to choose a good
project. Dr. Kilpatrick points "the part of the teacher in most of the school work depends largely on
who does the proposing." The most important thing about the project is that the pupils do the
proposing. Self choice and self-imposition lead to better results. Teacher may guide them but
decision should be democratic.

Planning: After choosing a project, next step is to prepare a plan for the execution. Proper planning is
essential for better results. Teacher should make the students to realize the need of planning and
encourage every student to give his suggestions. While planning available resources should be
considered, different proposals and alternatives should be taken in to account. Thus, after a good
deal of discussions, suggestion and counter suggestion, rejection and modification etc. the best of
the possible plans should be agreed upon. Students should be asked to write the down the plan in
their record book,

Executing: In this step planning is put into the practice. The whole project is to be executed through
co-operative efforts of all students. Under guidance of the teacher, various activities should be
divided according to the interest and abilities of the students. This is the stage at which the students
perform many activities and learn various useful experiences. The children keep themselves busy in
collecting information, reading books, visiting places, referring dictionaries. encyclopedia, writing
articles, drawing charts, keeping accounts, collecting specimens of different things, meeting people
and the like. The teacher should work as guide.

Judging: Evaluation of project is done by the teacher as well as by the students. The teacher
assesses the whole project in terms of its purpose. Students assess their performance in terms of
their success and mistakes. Self-criticism is valuable form of training. The students should find what
they have learned from the project and rectify mistakes they have committed.

Recording: Every student should maintain record book and all the details in various steps should be
noted down. It should give the procedure of providing a situation and of choosing the project, duties
assigned, difficulties felt and experiences gained etc.

Role of Teacher

•While selecting the project teacher should

•Consider students mental as well as the chronological age of the students.
•Select the project from the given syllabus.
•Consider the utility of the project for the students.
•Select an interesting, challenging and economical project.
•Allow the students to work independently and encourage co-operation
•Keep in mind the available resources.
•Play the role of friend, philosopher and guide.

Merits of Project Method

• Laws of learning: This method is in accordance with psychological laws of learning.

a) The law of readiness: According to this law, learning will be effective when the mind is ready to
receive it. The project method prepares the mind of the students by providing them with a suitable
situation.
b) The law of exercise: According to this law, learning will be effective when it is practiced. The
project method provides opportunities to the students to learn by doing
c)The law of effect: According to this law, learning will be effective and fruitful when a child gets
satisfaction and happiness in learning.
• Prepares for real life: Projects method, students undertake their activities in real life situations.
Knowledge gained in project is practical and useful to life.
• Training for democratic way of life: In project method students discuss and take decision
collectively in selection of the problem, plan and execute it with co-operation and team spirit. In this
way it trains for democratic way of life and Inculcate citizenship virtues like tolerance, independence,
open-mindedness, resourcefulness, etc.
• It establishes correlation and unity among various school subjects and helps in holistic
development.
• Dignity of labour: The students perform their activities with their own hands and thus they realize
the value of work.
• Develops intellectual abilities: As students learn by doing, no place for cramming and memorizing. It
encourages problem solving, thinking and reasoning

Demerits and Limitations

• Unsystematic and unconnected teaching: In this method it is not possible to follow a rigid time table
and also not possible to teach all subjects in a project.
• Expensive: It needs a lot of materials, which may not be available easily sometimes and also
consumes lot of time and energy of students and teachers.
• Lack of competent teachers: Success of this method depends on teacher. Because it imposes lot of
responsibility and burden on teachers. It requires resourceful and competent teachers.
• Completion of syllabus is not possible.
• It is not suitable for all types of students

PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD

Human life is full of problems. One should not live with problems, be solved immediately. The person
who has the problem solving capacity, lead happy and fruitful life. In day to day life child encounters
with various problems. As he grows, complexity of problem increases. So, education aims to develop
problem solving capacity in children. Problem solving method works in at direction.
According to Yoakham and Simpson "A problem occurs in a situation in which a felt
difficulty that is clearly present and recognized by the thinker. It may be a purely mental difficulty or it
may physical and involves the manipulation of data. The distinguishing thing about a problem,
however, is that individual who meets it as needing solution. He recognizes it as a challenge."
In simple words problem solving means deal a difficulty or a problem systematically
to get a solution. Children like challenging situations, so problem solving approach provides
challenging situations to students. Bur success in problem solving depends on how the problem is
presented and how well the child is prepared to face it. While selecting the problem the following
features of a problem should be kept in mind.

• The problem should be interesting, meaningful and useful to students.

• The problem should be according mental age and chronological age of students.
• It should be real and related physical and social environment of child.
• It should be directly related to subject.
• Good problem embodies various activities
• It ensures educational values.
Examples: why most of the world deserts are located at western part of the continents?
>How to cope with natural disasters?
>How can we solve child marriage problem in India?

Steps in Problem Solving Method

➣Identifying Problem and Defining: Teacher creates a situation, which make the students think and
identify the problem. Teacher should guide students in selecting a good problem. It should be defined
in clear terms to make the students understand the problem clearly.
➣Collecting Data: Teacher guides the students how to collect the relevant data. Students may refer
various books in library, visit to community and may surf the internet.
➣Analyzing the Data: Data is analyzed to select relevant information and put it in the logical order.
➣Drawing Conclusion: Teacher discuss with each student individually and with whole class to find
out the solution. As far as possible conclusion or solution should be drawn by students on the basis
of collected data.
➣Application: Students apply the learned knowledge in new situations.

Merits of Problem Solving Method

• Students acquire problem solving capacity.

• It development reasoning power, logical thinking, and critical judgment.
• Problem solving capacity enable the students live the life confidently.
• Nurture human values in students.
• Develops independent study habits and self reliance.
•Enhances knowledge and broaden the vision.

Demerits of Problem Solving Method

• Time consuming
• Adjusting time table for this method is difficult.
• This method expects lot of resources. It may not possible to follow this method in ill equipped
school.
• It may not possible to complete the syllabus.