scholarly journals Authentic Project-Based Learning in Times of Crisis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Najwa Saba’Ayon* ◽  
Grasiella Harb
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Online Learning Environment ◽  
Intensive English ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Valid Assessment ◽  
Online Cheating ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Assessment Procedures

The shift to an online learning environment during the Covid-19 outbreak has not been conducive enough for either active learning or fair assessment procedures that yield valid results. Accordingly, this research paper aims to investigate the extent to which Authentic Project-Based Learning engages students and hence provides a valid assessment of students’ genuine performance and proficiency during online learning in EFL communication and Intensive English courses. Using a mixed-methods design, the researchers employed the self-completion questionnaires and focus group interviews to collect their data from their 100-purposively –selected participants. The findings showed promising results in terms of engaging students in the learning process, curbing online cheating, and ensuring reliable and valid assessments of students’ performance. These results are significant in providing a pedagogical approach to be adopted by EFL educators during and after the pandemic.

Effects of Implementing STEM-I Project-Based Learning Activities for Female High School Students

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi-Jer Lou ◽  
Huei-Yin Tsai ◽  
Kuo-Hung Tseng ◽  
Ru-Chu Shih
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Knowledge Integration ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
School Students ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Female High School ◽  
Group Interviews

This study aims to explore the application of STEM-I (STEM-Imagination) project-based learning activities and its effects on the effectiveness, processes, and characteristics of STEM integrative knowledge learning and imagination development for female high school students. A total of 72 female high school students were divided into 18 teams. Students were provided with a place to discuss, share, and integrate learning activities. A questionnaire and focus group interviews were conducted for data collection. The results show that STEM-I project-based learning activities can promote the development of diverse abilities and effectively expand STEM knowledge integration and learning for female high school students as well as enhance their imagination in the project-based activities. Additionally, the STEM-I instructional model with the process of initiation, development, expression, alternative, and links (IDEAL) is confirmed. Finally, some suggestions are proposed for future studies on STEM education and imagination integrative instruction.

Case Study of the CUForum @ CUHK

2010 ◽  
pp. 238-258
Author(s):  
Peter Jakubowicz
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Online Learning Environment ◽  
Communication Course ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Group Interviews

In contrast to the formal school setting where learning is often linear, structured and controlled (be it online or face-to-face), for the ‘net generation,’ (Google, MySpace, MSN, YouTube and Yahoo) learning is often incidental and a sense of ‘fun’ is frequently of great importance. Such students’ learning is often non-linear, unstructured and explained well by the tenets of Anderson’s theory of online learning. This research discusses the benefits of fostering non-linearity in an online learning environment. A case study of an online business communication course at a university in Hong Kong is used to illustrate the importance of non-linear online learning by demonstrating how participants in this course adopted learning approaches that are consistent with, and a reflection of, the theory of online learning. Qualitative data from complete sets of online communication (including focus group interviews) collected over a one-semester, tertiary level course conducted at a university in Hong Kong are analyzed. The findings show that Chinese-speaking learners’ online interactions, categorized into three broad areas (cognitive, affective and social), demonstrate that interactivity is a key feature of an online learning environment. Its nature is exposed and discussed, not least the finding that for the participants in this study, learning was incidental and a sense of ‘fun’ was important. The study suggests ways in which online theory can contribute to, as well as help in, understanding this phenomenon and makes recommendations for future research.

scholarly journals The Efficiency of Online Learning Environment for Implementing Project-Based Learning: Students' Perceptions

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Atef Mohammad Abuhmaid
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Online Learning Environment ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Strongly Agree ◽  
The Impact

Project-based learning is gaining increasing popularity supported by research studies regarding its effectiveness for teaching and learning. In addition, the widespread of digital technologies and sudden disruptions to traditional in-person teaching have accelerated the adoption of online learning. The current study examined students' perceptions of the impact of online learning environment on project-based teaching method. Most universities worldwide have considered online learning encouraging their faculty to use online learning tools, and Hashemite University in Jordan is no exeption. 154 students studying Computers in Education course were selected during the first semester of the academic year 2019/2020 and were devided into two groups. The experimental group consisted of 75 students who studied the course online and 79 students in the control group who studied the course in a face-to-face mode. For the purpose of gathering data, a questionnaire was developed which consisted of 17 items and students' answers were on a four-point Likert scale: 4= strongly agree, 3= agree, 2= disagree, and 1= strongly disagree. Means, standard deviations, and One-Way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The results of the study showed positive attitudes among students (both online and in-class) toward project-based learning. In addition, the results showed that in-class students had a stronger views of project based-learning than online learning students.

Using Project-Based Learning to Teach Sustainability Issues to Elementary Students

2014 ◽  
pp. 190-209
Author(s):  
Ingrid Weiland ◽  
Elisa Pokral ◽  
Kristin Cook
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Elementary Students ◽  
Fourth Grade ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Support Students ◽  
Grade Classroom

This chapter describes a project-based learning unit on sustainability that was implemented in a fourth grade classroom by an informal educator (the second author) employed by a local waste management district. Previous instruction by the informal educator consisted of one-hour lessons that were separate units lacking the project-based learning format and transition links. This chapter describes a mixed-method case study in which pre and posttest tests as well as focus group interviews assessed students' learning as a result of participating in a cohesive project-based learning unit designed by the authors. There was a statistically significant change (p<0.05) in students' pre to posttest scores, and focus group interviews indicated that students could elaborate much more deeply on their ideas about sustainability after the program. The authors conclude that project-based learning can support students' understandings of sustainability while providing an engaging and enriching format to informal educator programs.

scholarly journals Peer feedback to facilitate project-based learning in an online environment

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Hui Ching ◽  
Yu-Chang Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Peer Feedback ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Online Learning Environment ◽  
Online Environment ◽  
Online Instructional Design ◽  
Method Approach

<p>There has been limited research examining the pedagogical benefits of peer feedback for facilitating project-based learning in an online environment. Using a mixed method approach, this paper examines graduate students’ participation and perceptions of peer feedback activity that supports project-based learning in an online instructional design course. Our findings indicate that peer feedback can be implemented in an online learning environment to effectively support project-based learning. Students actively participated in the peer feedback activity and responded positively about how the peer feedback activity facilitated their project-based learning experiences. The results of content analysis exploring the peer feedback reveal that learners were mostly supportive of peers’ work and they frequently asked questions to help advance their peers’ thinking. The implications and challenges of implementing peer feedback activity in an online learning environment are discussed.</p>

‘My children tell me it’s so simple’: A mixed-methods approach to understand older non-users’ perceptions of Social Networking Sites

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marika Lüders ◽  
Petter Bae Brandtzæg
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Culture Gap ◽  
Group Interviews

While there has been a great deal of research on younger people using Social Networking Sites (SNSs), there has been less work on older people and non-users. We present a mixed-methods design with a technology-acceptance survey and focus-group interviews to study older Norwegian non-users’ perceptions of SNSs. Our study reveals that most non-users in our sample deliberately do not use SNSs. They perceive SNS communication as cold and narcissistic and view the usefulness of SNSs to be low. This finding indicates a generational culture gap in how young versus older people experience SNSs. Privacy and security concerns are also prevalent. Non-users, expressing an interest in SNSs, believe SNSs could increase contact with family and friends, but perceive lack of competence to be a barrier.

Using Project-Based Learning to Teach Sustainability Issues to Elementary Students

2015 ◽  
pp. 779-798
Author(s):  
Ingrid Weiland ◽  
Elisa Pokral ◽  
Kristin Cook
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Elementary Students ◽  
Fourth Grade ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Support Students ◽  
Grade Classroom

This chapter describes a project-based learning unit on sustainability that was implemented in a fourth grade classroom by an informal educator (the second author) employed by a local waste management district. Previous instruction by the informal educator consisted of one-hour lessons that were separate units lacking the project-based learning format and transition links. This chapter describes a mixed-method case study in which pre and posttest tests as well as focus group interviews assessed students' learning as a result of participating in a cohesive project-based learning unit designed by the authors. There was a statistically significant change (p<0.05) in students' pre to posttest scores, and focus group interviews indicated that students could elaborate much more deeply on their ideas about sustainability after the program. The authors conclude that project-based learning can support students' understandings of sustainability while providing an engaging and enriching format to informal educator programs.

A Human Collaborative Online Learning Environment Using Intelligent Agents

2011 ◽  
pp. 1-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilton José Silva de Azevedo ◽  
Edson Emílio Scalabrin
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Intelligent Agents ◽  
Multiagent System ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Online Learning Environment ◽  
Human Interactions ◽  
Generic Agent ◽  
Social Competences

This chapter introduces the design and implementation of a multiagent system based on a collaborative online learning environment (COLE). The purpose of developing such an environment is to improve social competences along with traditional content-related ones in lifelong learning. As educators would be unable to handle the huge amount of data concerning human interactions in such a learning environment, a multiagent system approach is adopted. The concept of human collaboration and the ways that project-based learning (PBL) and portfolios can be used to improve social competences are discussed based on the Social Theory of Learning. The way that the System Analysis for Agent Systems (SAAS) method was used to identify services and agents is presented. A general review of multiagent system architectures is presented to justify the choice of an open system. The basis and architecture of the COLE are explained. In order to facilitate the implementation of particular agents, a generic agent (GAg) and its functionalities are presented.

Effects of Implementing STEM-I Project-Based Learning Activities for Female High School Students

2015 ◽  
pp. 1062-1082
Author(s):  
Shi-Jer Lou ◽  
Huei-Yin Tsai ◽  
Kuo-Hung Tseng ◽  
Ru-Chu Shih
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Knowledge Integration ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Instructional Model ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
School Students ◽  
Female High School ◽  
Group Interviews

This study aims to explore the application of STEM-I (STEM-Imagination) project-based learning activities and its effects on the effectiveness, processes, and characteristics of STEM integrative knowledge learning and imagination development for female high school students. A total of 72 female high school students were divided into 18 teams. Students were provided with a place to discuss, share, and integrate learning activities. A questionnaire and focus group interviews were conducted for data collection. The results show that STEM-I project-based learning activities can promote the development of diverse abilities and effectively expand STEM knowledge integration and learning for female high school students as well as enhance their imagination in the project-based activities. Additionally, the STEM-I instructional model with the process of initiation, development, expression, alternative, and links (IDEAL) is confirmed. Finally, some suggestions are proposed for future studies on STEM education and imagination integrative instruction.

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