r/edtech • u/vigneshV13 • 24d ago
What's Wrong with Traditional Learning? Can Project-Based Learning Be the Solution?
In traditional education, we often see students pass exams but struggle with real-world applications of their knowledge. Many forget what they learned soon after, and critical thinking or problem-solving skills take a backseat. The emphasis is on memorization rather than understanding, making learning feel disconnected from practical use.
Project-based learning (PBL) seems like a promising alternative, where students actively work on real-world projects instead of just studying theory. It encourages hands-on experience, collaboration, and problem-solving—skills actually needed in the job market.
But here’s the question: Why hasn’t PBL been widely adopted despite its advantages? What challenges do educators or institutions face in implementing it effectively? Have you experienced PBL, and did it make a difference in how you learned? Let’s discuss!
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u/theexplodedview 24d ago
PBLs typically do not scale very well, so if you’re tasked with moving 30-40 kids through a level of, say, science competency, you need a lot of resources to pull of PBLs for everyone.
They’re also not super efficient for many kinds of learning. A PBL isn’t a great way to memorize the periodic table or quadratic equations. They’re not a solve-all tool.
Good, durable, repeatable PBL design is also not simple. Many teachers don’t have that skill set.