A pedagogical project is a lesson plan proposal submitted by a student who is studying to become a teacher. It focuses on a single teaching unit that can range in length from a single class session to a multi-session project or a field trip. The completed project demonstrates the student’s ability to create a coherent and appropriate educational plan with clearly defined goals and metrics for determining the outcome. Teachers may be asked to include pedagogical projects in their portfolios for potential employers to review, and they are also used in teaching education to help people identify and address weaknesses.
A pedagogical project’s format varies, but it usually begins with a brief outline of the project’s goals, followed by a discussion of how those goals will be met. For example, a teacher might want to create a Native American unit for fourth grade students. While discussing Native American history and culture, the methods could include watching videos, reading documents, and making crafts. Goals should be measurable; for example, the teacher might want students to be able to name at least five tribes or recite five important dates in Native American history.
A rationale is included in some pedagogical projects, in which the teacher explains the methodology used. This can include a discussion of various approaches as well as criticisms of those approaches in order to demonstrate why the teacher chose a specific approach. A statement of bias that may have influenced pedagogical decisions can also be included in the rationale; for example, the author may prefer a particular method after seeing it in action with real students.
Completed pedagogical projects can provide insight into how a teacher might approach a unit on a specific subject, as well as criticism to deconstruct the methods used and consider alternative approaches. A pedagogical project’s rationale section can also be used to discuss how the teacher might adapt the project to meet the needs of students with special needs, such as disabled or multilingual students. In some cases, cultural sensitivity is a concern; for example, in schools with a diverse student body.
Instructors can grade a pedagogical project in teacher education, and the class can also workshop it. Other trainee teachers can provide feedback as well as their own thoughts. Critique encourages teachers to think critically about their own and other people’s work, and it can help them develop strengths that they can apply to future projects. A detailed discussion of the flaws of a particular educational method, for example, could be incorporated into future project rationale sections.