Advantages and Disadvantages

Benefits of PBL

PBL allows students to tackle real-world issues
It strengthens critical reading, verbal, writing, and communication skills
- Very important for 21st century careers/jobs
Students learn appropriate use of technology in the classroom and the workplace
They have to learn to collaborate with their peers
PBL is designed to be a "bridge to connect knowledge learned in segments and apply it to a real-world issue"
Helps the students gain confidence and self-esteem

Disadvantages of PBL

PBL can take a lot of time
Grading projects will be more complicated and take longer than usual assignments
It can be hard to reward or take away points from a project. Say a person may have put a lot of effort in a project, but the project itself is not polished. Do you give or take away points?
A lot of work and background information must be done before you give the assignment to the students
Careful management must be implemented. You have to be constantly aware if your students are staying on topic