“But Money Makes It Real!”: Problematizing Capitalist Logic in Project-Based Learning
In an effort to boost engagement while also nurturing 21st century skills such as collaboration and critical thinking, a growing number of U.S. public schools have expanded opportunities for students to engage in applied learning experiences via projects. This conceptual article explores the under-e...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | AERA Open |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584241309919 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850056148845068288 |
|---|---|
| author | Sarah M. Fine |
| author_facet | Sarah M. Fine |
| author_sort | Sarah M. Fine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In an effort to boost engagement while also nurturing 21st century skills such as collaboration and critical thinking, a growing number of U.S. public schools have expanded opportunities for students to engage in applied learning experiences via projects. This conceptual article explores the under-examined relationship between such experiences and the logic of neoliberal capitalism. The author explores how project-based learning, despite its potential as a lever for equity, sometimes takes up neoliberal capitalist tropes such as individualism, competition, profit maximization, the commodification of learner-made artifacts, and market-based solutions to social problems. The article suggests that until the field embraces approaches to project-based learning which include a Freirian emphasis on criticality and praxis, capitalist logic will persist as a mechanism by which “real world” learning can perpetuate all-too-real systems of oppression. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b27790f71a664c50b9f8124e84b2df6e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2332-8584 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AERA Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-b27790f71a664c50b9f8124e84b2df6e2025-08-20T02:51:46ZengSAGE PublishingAERA Open2332-85842025-01-011110.1177/23328584241309919“But Money Makes It Real!”: Problematizing Capitalist Logic in Project-Based LearningSarah M. FineIn an effort to boost engagement while also nurturing 21st century skills such as collaboration and critical thinking, a growing number of U.S. public schools have expanded opportunities for students to engage in applied learning experiences via projects. This conceptual article explores the under-examined relationship between such experiences and the logic of neoliberal capitalism. The author explores how project-based learning, despite its potential as a lever for equity, sometimes takes up neoliberal capitalist tropes such as individualism, competition, profit maximization, the commodification of learner-made artifacts, and market-based solutions to social problems. The article suggests that until the field embraces approaches to project-based learning which include a Freirian emphasis on criticality and praxis, capitalist logic will persist as a mechanism by which “real world” learning can perpetuate all-too-real systems of oppression.https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584241309919 |
| spellingShingle | Sarah M. Fine “But Money Makes It Real!”: Problematizing Capitalist Logic in Project-Based Learning AERA Open |
| title | “But Money Makes It Real!”: Problematizing Capitalist Logic in Project-Based Learning |
| title_full | “But Money Makes It Real!”: Problematizing Capitalist Logic in Project-Based Learning |
| title_fullStr | “But Money Makes It Real!”: Problematizing Capitalist Logic in Project-Based Learning |
| title_full_unstemmed | “But Money Makes It Real!”: Problematizing Capitalist Logic in Project-Based Learning |
| title_short | “But Money Makes It Real!”: Problematizing Capitalist Logic in Project-Based Learning |
| title_sort | but money makes it real problematizing capitalist logic in project based learning |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584241309919 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahmfine butmoneymakesitrealproblematizingcapitalistlogicinprojectbasedlearning |