APPROACH

PROJECT APPROACH

A project approach is a thorough investigation of a subject that may be launched by a child or teacher and involve a single person, a small group of children, or the entire class (Department of Education, 2023). Depending on the degree of the children's interests, a project might be short-term or long-term (Department of Education, 2023). The project approach differs from an inquiry method in that the project approach includes a focus on producing a certain result, which may be a display, written report, or presentation (Department of Education, 2023). Children have the chance to demonstrate their own learning via the creation of individually meaningful objects while using the project-based learning approach (Department of Education, 2023). The Project Approach holds the beliefs of Piaget’s theory of constructivism which highlights the concept that children construct their own meaning and understanding from their experience (Arthur et al., 2018). Through a project-based approach, educators can support children’s cognitive development by providing project-based and research-based learning experiences where children can engage in higher-level thinking experiences and contextualize learning experiences by assimilating skills and accommodating different expectations with outcomes (Berk, 2013). Moreover, the Early Years Learning Framework Australian Government Department of Education [AGDE] (2022) also emphasizes that children are competent learners, children transfer and adapt their learning from one context to another (AGDE, 2022). Project-based learning (PBL) is also linked to a child-centred approach, which encourages early childhood educators to focus on children’s interests, be responsive, encourage children’s participation, and motivate them to learn (Eliason & Jenkins, 2016). It also encourages educators to include children’s opinions and decision-making (Eliason & Jenkins, 2016).

In the early 1900s, the Project Approach had first introduced by the work of educators in England (Follari, 2019). This approach is reflected as a constructivist approach to learning, where it focuses on the concepts that people actively construct and develop a deeper understanding of society from their real-life experiences (Eliason & Jenkins, 2016). The concept behind this depends on how children gain knowledge and construct meaning from their own understanding of society and by taking part and contributing to the development democratic society (The Project Approach, n.d.). It is believed that Philosopher John Dewey is the foundation of the project approach. During the developing era, a project method was first used by John Dewey in his laboratory school (Gutek, 2014). Dewey's main strategy is to promote active inquiry and hands-on investigation (Gutek, 2014), slightly it became internationally practiced as an emergent curriculum framework for children’s learning and development (Follari, 2019). However, there were times, such as the academic and skilled-oriented instruction, when this approach was seen as opposed to the formal education models in early childhood education (Gutek, 2014).

The Project Approach has gained a lot of popularity in democratic societies whose aim was to encourage young children to extend critical thinking skills (The Project Approach, n.d.). It also highlighted the importance of children’s involvement in decision-making and in reflective practices (The Project Approach, n.d.). Some important features of the Project Approach are that it offers natural and relevant learning environments where children can engage in real-life experiences which include daily contexts, and activities (Follari, 2019). At the same time, educators can know about children’s understanding, children’s imagination, engagement, and how children are using various senses of learning (Follari, 2019). In this context, early childhood teachers will be responsive toward children by providing rich learning experiences. Which encourages children to participate in an interesting and meaningful learning process. Similarly, by being involved learners, children will foster their knowledge about their surroundings which helps children to increase their cognitive and social development (Follari, 2019).