Project strategy:

“A project is any activity, individual or group, involving the investigation and solution of problems, planned and carried out to conclusion under the guidance of the teacher.”

-Callahan & Clark.

Features:  

•        It extends beyond classroom teaching.
•       The method is carried out in natural setting or real life situations.
•      This method involves investigation and solution to practical problems.
•      It demands and ensures active participation from the students. 
•       Involves effective interaction between the student and the social environment.
•       Creates an opportunity to acquire or practice social skills.
•       Enables the students to study functional aspects of the subjects learnt.
•       The teacher acts as a facilitator or a guide and thus promotes independent learning.

Principles of Project Strategy/method

1. Principle of Utility: the learned knowledge gained from the project is useful to learner.
2. Principle of Readiness: Learners choose the interested topic, so builds willingness and readiness to do the project.
3. Principle of Learning by Doing: Learners acquire knowledge by doing research by themselves, so learning becomes more realistic and memorable.   
4. Principle of Freedom at Work: The teacher acts only as a guide and facilitator in using this method of teaching. The students enjoy a high degree of freedom and it facilitates the emotional and intellectual development process in the learners. The learners learn to be accountable and responsible of their own obligations and develop a sense of belongingness to the work assigned.
5.  Principle of Socialization: Learner have direct contact with the social environment, they acquires   social skills necessary to adjust and live in a society. 

Types of Project Work.

•  Projects involving construction or production of a useful article/object to “embody some or      plan in external form”—Produce Type.
•  Projects providing opportunities for appreciation of some aesthetic experience—Consumer Type.
•  Projects involving study and investigation of practical situations/problems-Investigation Type.
•   Projects providing opportunities for mastery of certain skills—Drill Type

The Investigation Type of Project Work – Stages (Diana & L. Booth)

  Stage I: Classroom Planning

Step 1: Providing a set of tasks/problems for study

Step 2: Selecting a task/problem for study

Step 3: Formulation of hypothesis (for problems undertaken)

Step4: Planning/designing methods to investigate

Stage II: Execution

Step 1: Collection of data

Step 2: Organizing and interpreting data

Step 3: Review

Step III: Conclusion

Step 1: reporting and incorporating additions/deletions

Step 2: Evaluation