Page 218 - DEDU505_TEACHER_EDUCATION_ENGLISH

Teacher Education

Notes

The dictionary meaning of the project is a scheme or design.

Aims of Project Work: The aims of the project work can broadly be classified into the following
categories:
• Knowledge • Skills
• Personality attributes
Let us elaborate each category for better understanding.
Knowledge: Project work helps the learner develop knowledge of the topic and learn the various
techniques used in the area of study.
• Skills : Project work develops the following skills in the students:
• Skills for independent work which includes planning one's work, hunting for sources.
• Instruetlwal System collecting data, selecting relevant materials, fabricating experiments,
manipulating instructions, making keen observations, analysing results, synthesisiig
findings, making generalisation and presenting findings for use and necessary action.
• Skills for group work include working in a group. developing the ability to cooperate
with others, developing fellow feeling and democratic spirit.
• Skills for communication include development of oral skills by argument and discussion
with colleagues and supervisor (teacher in ow case).
Personality attributes: Project work also develops personality attributes which may be higher
mental abilities such as critical thinking, creative thinking, evaluative abiity, analytical thinking,
etc.. and certain affective attributes like inmest in the area of sbdy, social sensitivity. etc.
Project work may be of different kinds. In school context, it may broadly be classified as laboratory
work. field work, and library work
(i) Laboratory work : Laboratory work aims at developing certain skills in the student through
activities conducted in conmlled conditions. Such project work is carried out in science and
science-related subjects. The students are requid to undertake mini research projects. for
example, canying out small Iaboratory experiments, Like preparation of oxygen. dissection
of a frog, etc. Laboratory work involves skills of manipulation, organisation, experimentation
and interpretation. 'Ihrough lab work, students get real-life experiences, of course, in
controlled conditions. The students get the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge into
practice.
(ii) Field work: Unlike laboratory work, field work is conducted in real-life conditions, and not
under conmlled conditions. The students are expected to go to the real-life situations where
they observe a phenomenon, collect the relevant data, process and andyse the data and
amve at conclusions. Field work is appropriate for both the physical and the social science
subjects. Community projects also come under field work. Students may bemotivtion take
up field work to gain first hand knowledge of the subject. Organising a literacy compaign
in the community. visiting a n e . y factory, visiting to a nearby slum, etc., are some
examples of field work.
(iii) Library work : Sometimes students may be asked to undertake project work related to library
studies. Such a project has potential to promote individualised learning. Though the students
are not habituated to library work in schools, you can encourage them for it by assigning
library projects. Library projects may be conducted in two ways:
(a) After introducing the topic and providing necessary information to the student in the
class, you may tell them about the relevant books which concern the topic selected for the
project work. Students should go through those books and develop a report on their
work.

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