Kaisu Pallaskallio

In this session, I'm going to introduce the participants to the Design-based project learning model and why it should be leveraged for technology education. The term project-based learning (PBL) is often used vaguely to describe learning by doing. In design-based project learning, we combine various modern pedagogical approaches with PBL to create optimal learning opportunities for promoting valuable future skills and to motivate the learners. To make an 'ordinary' project into a design-based project, we can apply a design process, where students design something for others to enjoy. Doing this adds a motivating, meaningful layer to PBL. “Let’s create value for others together”. That really is what drives learners to achieve more than the minimum while also making them feel happy and needed. In addition to presenting the principles of Design-based project learning, I will introduce a few practical applications from elementary classrooms.