Twenty-First Century Learning: Is Project Based Learning the Learning of the Future?

Project based learning (PBL) allows students preschool to grade twelve to get involved in research projects in a hands-on manner. Project based learning provides students with access to a wide variety of technology to use to collect information, analyze data, and present their research. Twenty-first century skills is a goal for PBL projects which include team work and critical thinking to encourage students to become more interested in what they are studying. PBL is being used at Myrtle Beach High School by seventy-five tenth grade students in the subjects of English, Math, and Social Studies. The projects the students are involved in are integrated into all three of these subject areas. This study researches how often students in a tenth grade PBL English class attend class compared to the students in a tenth grade traditional English class. This was done through the collection of attendance records each day, throughout the 33 days of this study. This study also looked at how both sets of students perceive PBL at their high school, based on their responses to eleven questions on a survey given to them by the researcher. They were asked to rate their perceptions about PBL and the use of technology to complete assignments. The study found that students in the PBL class have a higher rate of attendance than that of their peers in a traditional class. As well as the fact that students at Myrtle Beach High School, especially those in PBL classes, perceive PBL as a positive teaching and learning model