Examples of Project-Based Learning: YouTube & Instagram Portfolios
A Better Way to Learn
With the internet and online learning available to every household, we are more connected than ever. Students’ education is no longer limited to the traditional school environment within the common classroom.
What’s more, conventional curriculums no longer apply directly to real-life scenarios and course materials are often outdated. This frequently leaves kids feeling apathetic and disengaged in class.
Typically, a student’s only motivation to learn the material is to pass a test. Then, once the test is over, the material is no longer reinforced and forgotten.
What’s the solution?
Project-Based Learning
To increase student motivation and interest in subjects, learning goals and activities should be more focused on their unique interests. Plus, they should be learning more things that they can apply in the real world through project-based learning.
Project-based learning activities are excellent for getting students more interested in subjects and teaching them applicable life skills.
What is project-based learning?
In project-based learning, students work independently (or in groups) for an extended period of time on a specific goal. Striving to achieve the goal on time will incentivize students to practice a collection of core skills, such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Furthermore, depending on the type of project, kids can even learn technical computer skills. For instance, this could include anything from coding, graphic design, blogging, editing, social media marketing to how to use specific software.
Additional Benefits of Project-Based Learning
Using these innovative educational methods, students will learn how to work autonomously and how to collaborate better with their peers. Project-based learning projects will also improve character and other important life skills, such as:
- Student motivation
- Problem-solving skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Planning and researching
- Communication
- Creativity
- Self-confidence
- A deeper understanding of topics
Using Internet Technology in Project-Based Learning
For many parents, they are usually trying to limit their children’s screen time. This is certainly important not to overlook; however, it is inevitable that our devices are all here to stay. YouTube, Instagram, and other forms of social media have become entrenched in our daily lives.
Therefore, since most kids are using these platforms already, why not integrate the technology as part of their curriculum?
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Project-Based Learning Examples
YouTube and Instagram are highly effective project-based learning tools.
Below are three project-based learning activities that you could try with your kids using these two social media platforms. Also, school teachers could adapt these ideas for their course work as well.
1. YouTube Art Portfolio
The goal for your child’s YouTube project can vary a lot. You can customize the goal based on their interests and talents. For this example, we will use art as the subject medium.
Project Aim
The ultimate goal of this project is to have your child develop a YouTube channel as a virtual portfolio of all of his or her art. For instance, it could contain drawings, paintings, wood carvings, sculptures, pottery, or whatever type of art that they enjoy creating.
Project Guidelines and Steps
- Explain the aim of the YouTube project and final goal.
- Show examples of YouTube channels and ones that focus on art portfolios specifically.
- The student should try to use the examples as templates to replicate.
- For instance, they should include their own custom graphics, channel art, channel descriptions, video titles, video descriptions, etc.
- After showing the examples, the student should then try to create their channel on their own. They should research how to do it themselves. However, give additional guidance or assistance if they require it.
- Once they have completed their YouTube channel template, they can start adding their art videos.
- Videos can be recorded with a smartphone. As for the video content, they could do a simple recording of their page as they draw or it could be something more complex. For example, they could take a recording of a completed painting and they could talk about it in detail afterward. Encourage the child to use their imagination for different ideas.
- As they complete videos, they can upload them to their YouTube channel, add video titles, descriptions, tags, etc.
By the end, they should have a collection of art videos on their channel. They can share the videos with their friends, “like” and comment on their classmates’ creations in real-time.
2. Instagram Recipe Cookbook
The second project-based learning activity involves creating visual content for Instagram. Again, the themes can vary as long as they focus on something that they are interested in. For this example, we will use recipes and food as the theme.
Project Aim
Similar to the YouTube channel, this project involves creating an online portfolio. Though, instead of art, the Instagram portfolio will display food recipes. The main goal of this project is to set up an Instagram account that contains at least 10 videos of their favorite recipes. Students can either create their own recipes or adapt recipes from a cookbook.
Project Guidelines and Steps
- Explain the aim of the Instagram project and the final goal.
- Show examples of Instagram accounts and ones that focus on food recipes.
- The student should try to use the examples as templates to replicate.
- For instance, they should include their own Instagram profile descriptions, video descriptions, tags, and comments, etc.
- After showing the examples, the student should then try to create their Instagram account on their own. Again, they should research how to do it themselves. You can give additional guidance or assistance if needed.
- Once they have completed setting up their Instagram account, they can start adding their food recipe videos.
- Videos can be recorded with a smartphone. For the video content, they could record the process and edit specific steps on how to make each dish. Alternatively, if they prefer to do something a bit easier, they could take photos of each step and add textual descriptions.
- As they complete each recipe video (or photo collection), they can upload the content to their Instagram account. Finally, add titles, descriptions, tags, etc.
Once the project is finished, they should have a nice collection of their favorite homemade Instagram recipes. Throughout the entire project period, they can share the recipes with their peers, “like” their friends’ content, and comment on their cooking.
Conclusion
Project-based learning combined with internet technology is an effective teaching tool that all teachers can use to enhance the educational experience. These project examples with YouTube and Instagram will motivate students to learn specific skills that they can apply in real life.
Extra Project-Based Learning Ideas and Activities
Visit the ESL Expat website for more teaching resources, lessons, learning games, and project-based activities.
Do you have any other project-based learning ideas to recommend?
Please leave a comment and share your ideas with the community.
