PBL and IBL: Advantages and Uses in a Physical Education Classroom

Project Based Learning

Project Based Learning is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge.  This style of learning challenges students to problem solve  and use critical thinking skills.  Some of the advantages to using this style of learning with your students are that it is enjoyable for students, improves learning process, and builds skills for success in upper grades.  Not only is this learning style fun for students but it makes teaching more enjoyable and connects the students with the real world.  In a Physical Education class this style of learning will encourage students and teachers to think outside the box.   

There are many uses for Project Based Learning in a physical education classroom.  For the upper grades who have health classes this style of learning would benefit teachers when trying to make the class more fun and interesting.  Students can do many different projects using this style of learning for alcohol, tobacco, drugs, health and nutrition.  This style of learning could be beneficial for students to gain knowledge and experience on key issues they may have to deal with in their everyday life. In a PE setting students can actively engage in project based learning by challenging groups to make up new games.  They would have to use critical thinking skills to come up with all the different aspects of developing new games.  

Problem-based learning. (2016, January 25). Retrieved February 04, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem-based_learning

Inquiry Based Learning 

Inquiry Based Learning starts by posing questions, problems or scenarios.  Teachers are responsible to guide students towards finding the correct answers by posing the questions to the teacher.  This style has more of a sequence of events that needs to happen before they can get to the end result. For this style of learning you must collect data to gain the knowledgeable information so it can be applied to real life. Some of the advantages to Inquiry Based Learning is having collaborative approaches that benefit students in learning 21st century skills, the ability to work in teams, solve problems and apply knowledge from one situation to another. This style of learning can be incorporated in a physical education class and in health.

Some of the many uses for this style of approach are posing questions and scenarios to different groups. Inquiry based learning can give students different ways to think in a PE setting. This style can be used in health classes by setting up different scenarios of sexual education, peer pressure, drugs and alcohol. Students will be able to question the teaching and use the information to gain knowledge. With that knowledge students will be able to come up with a solution or conclusion to the problem. Students will be able to gain useful knowledge they can take with them and use in the future.

Inquiry-based learning. (2016, February 3). Retrieved February 04, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquiry-based_learning

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