I am a big proponent of project-based learning, but one question that comes up often is, “Is project based learning for every student?”
This is a question that deserves some consideration because the answer is there are some students (especially our special education students) that may struggle with PBL. Several teachers I have spoken with have genuine concerns on how they could attempt project based learning with their special education students.
I 100% believe that most of these students can absolutely benefit from PBL! However, there are things we as educators can do to support those students!
So, lets dive a little more deeply into this question.
Students Who May Struggle With Project Based Learning
Much of the educational research available supports project based learning, inquiry based learning, and cross curricular learning as these concepts aim to place our students in the driver seat of their learning within the context of real-world problems.
However, there is a population of students that we also need to remember. There are some students who do not thrive with little constraints and endless choices.
Like some of my students….
While doing my research, I read this quote and it has really stuck with me because this is my kid. My own daughter has Dyslexia and OCD. Sometimes, given the total freedom of _____ is completely overwhelming and leads to a self-deprecating spiral.
“Many students initially struggle with the responsibility for making choices about their learning because they have so few opportunities to do so during the school day and do not have a fully developed skill set to direct their own learning.”
I have seen her spiral out and have a complete emotional breakdown when deciding what socks to wear to school.
DeMink-Carthew and Netcoh (2019)
Because “what if she made the wrong choice”.
So some kids (especially if they’ve never encountered PBL before) can actually suffer from the paradox of choice.
4 Ways Educators Can Support Students That Struggle With PBL
The Power of 3: One way to support these students is to give them the choices. With the power of 3. For these students, I like to give 3 choices. Enough for their preference but also not so many that it’s overwhelming.
For example:
❤️ here are 3 skills you have still not mastered. Pick ONE that you want to focus on and master in this unit.
❤️ here are the top 3 articles I would suggest to start your research
❤️ here are 3 different formative assessments I can use on this skill, tell me which one you would like for me to use this week
Explicit Instruction:
Often with project-based learning, we take a BIG step back and let our students do most of the driving. However, special education students may benefit from step-by-step guidance and clear expectations throughout the project.
One way to make this “more PBL” would be to:
- make some pre-recorded videos of skills/topics you think your students will need more support to load into your LMS
- find YouTube videos to load into your LMS
- create small group brainstorming sessions for students to share areas they are stuck on and get help from the group
I also highly recommend breaking down tasks into as many manageable components as possible and provide visual aids if necessary. A great resource that can help with this is Goblin Tools!
Flexible Timelines:
Recognize the importance of flexibility in project timelines. Special education students may require additional time to process information, complete tasks, or manage their anxiety. Allow for extensions when necessary, ensuring that the focus remains on understanding and mastery rather than meeting strict deadlines.
Regular Check-ins and Reflection:
Regular check-ins during project-based learning is good practice no matter what. However, with special education students, you may need to do these check-ins more often to assess their progress, address any concerns, and provide constructive feedback.
I created these check-ins and all of my students fill it out on a regular basis during our project based learning activities. It helps me to quickly identify any students who need extra support and how they need that support as well as see how the process is going and how they are feeling at the moment.
Many of our Special Education students handle anxiety on a daily basis, so I highly recommend that you continuously highlight where they have GROWN and incorporate this into their reflections.
Final Thoughts
PBL honestly lends itself to support special education needs on its own since you work on solving the problem over a length of time, have multiple check-in points, and focus more on the process and growth. Of course, you should always consult each child’s IEP and check-in with any special education support staff you may also be working with.
I hope this helps you in some way this year as much as it has helped me!
P.S. Would you like some high interest READY-TO-GO PBL products right now? Click the link here to check out the ones I have in my store!
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