Project Based Learning

TechnoKids Digital Literacy and Coding Curriculum is a comprehensive library of technology projects for Grades 1-12 teachers. It is divided into categories: Primary (Grades 1-3), Junior (Grades 3-6), Intermediate (Grades 6-9), and Senior (Grades 8-12). Each technology project includes a teacher guide with lesson plans, student workbook, and resources. These instructional materials integrate technology into curriculum and support STEM education.

TechnoKids applies a Project Based Learning (PBL) approach in the design of our technology projects. Project Based Learning is a teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects. Our technolgy projects help students apply digital tools to complete open-ended challenges or investigate authentic problems. For example, they might design a website for kids, conduct a poll about school uniforms, or raise public awareness about coral reefs. Since the topics of each project are student-driven, everyone in the class has the freedom to pursue their unique interests.

• targets learning objectives from multiple subject areas
• promotes collaboration
• simulates real problems to have students actively devise solutions
• creates learning opportunities based upon student interest and strengths
• offers multiple ways for students to participate and demonstrate their knowledge
• accommodates different learning styles
• provides a learning experience that draws on creative and critical thinking
• engages learners by offering a meaningful learning activity
• encourages the mastery of technological tools
• differentiates instruction

Project Based Learning blends multiple teaching strategies together to create a fun learning experience. TechnoKids technology projects interweave 10 key components of Project Based Learning into our activities:

1. Interdisciplinary
   Interdisciplinary studies combine two or more academic subject areas. TechnoKids technology projects are interdisciplinary because they combine knowledge and skills from multiple subject areas such as language arts, mathematics, science, geography, history, visual arts, and social studies. They can be used by classroom teachers as a cross-curricular approach to learning. For example, students can develop a deeper understanding of content by using digital tools to create a report, presentation, or infographic.


2. Collaboration
   Collaboration is a process where two or more people work together to reach a common goal. TechnoKids technology projects develop team building and communication skills. The activity might involve providing feedback to a peer, building something together, remixing another's work, or sharing ideas. No matter the task, working together is a key component of Project Based Learning.


3. Inquiry-Based
   Inquiry is the search for knowledge or truth by asking questions, examining facts, and synthesizing the information. TechnoKids technology projects often include an investigation into a problem to discover viable solutions with the search guided by a series of questions. Investigating real-world issues is an important part of Project Based Learning.


4. Motivational
   Motivation is the incentive to act. TechnoKids technology projects are often motivational to students because they are personally meaningful. During a project, students are actively engaged in the learning process, by selecting a topic of personal interest, picking the format of the finished product, or contributing to the assessment of completed work. This encourages them to become involved in learning.


5. Self-Directed Learning
   Self-directed learning occurs when the student can independently undertake a task and make judgments without the direction of a teacher. When teaching using a TechnoKids technology project, the teacher often assumes the role of a facilitator. The teacher will help students gain an understanding of the assignment including the learning objectives, timeline, and criteria. Afterwards the students, within the given framework, will select a topic of interest, plan and organize their ideas, and carry out the assignment with the teacher guiding the process. Resources provided by TechnoKids, such as student workbook, checklists, and self-assessment tools support independence.


6. Learning Style
   A learning style is how a person comprehends, expresses, and remembers information to gain knowledge or develop skills. A learning style may be auditory, meaning learning occurs by hearing; visual, meaning learning occurs by seeing; or kinesthetic, meaning learning occurs by doing. TechnoKids technology projects include resources that target different learning styles including worksheets, example files, templates, videos, and tool flashcards.


7. Critical Thinking
   Critical thinking is the purposeful interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information used to make rational judgments or decisions. TechnoKids technology projects require students to engage in higher-order thinking skills. They must examine data and then express their personal insights. The task might be justifying a budget, defending a position, advocating on an important issue, or conducting research on a real-world problem.


8. Creative Thinking
   Creative thinking is the deliberate stimulation of the imagination to generate original or innovative ideas, insights, processes, solutions, concepts, experiences, or objects. TechnoKids technology projects require students to engage in creative thinking as open-ended inquiries have no simple or easy-to-find answer. They are given the freedom to think "outside the box" and express themselves. This occurs whether the task is inventing a game, designing a floor plan, or overcoming a coding challenge.


9. Technology Integration
   Technology integration is the blending of computer-related learning activities into curriculum to have students acquire, organize, demonstrate, and communicate information. TechnoKids technology projects encourage students to use devices and applications as an integral tool in Project Based Learning. The instructional materials seamlessly integrate the use of technology into curriculum. This is a meaningful way to have students master digital tools, while learning about content knowledge.


10. Differentiated Learning
    Differentiated learning adapts instruction to meet the needs of individual students. This approach personalizes learning. TechnoKids technology projects include many features and resources that help teachers to adapt the activities. For example, challenges have multiple levels of difficulty, giving students the flexibility to select the task that suits their interest and ability. Moreover, TechnoKids provides skill reviews that can be substituted for an open-ended assignment if learners require additional support. As well, included with a project are extension activities, which are ideal for students in need of enrichment.