Improving Students' Learning of Sustainability Using Project-Based Learning (PBL)

摘要

This paper provides a new approach to teaching and learning through using Project-BasedLearning (PBL) methodology. It discusses the process of incorporating PBL into a transportationcourse as well as the impact of this intervention on students' learning outcomes. To evaluate andcompare students' learning between the lecture-based and project-based teaching approaches, theLaboratory for Innovative Technology and Engineering Education (LITEE) survey instrument(http://www.litee.org/site) was used. The survey instrument includes five constructs to measurefive different aspects of students' learning in the undergraduate transportation engineering:higher-order cognitive skills, self-efficacy, ease of learning subject matter, teamwork, andcommunication skills. The survey on pre-assessment and post-assessment of student learningoutcomes was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the project-based approach inenhancing students' learning outcomes. The results show that the use of the project-basedapproach significantly improves students' ease of learning the subject matter. Project-basedlearning could be used as an effective teaching and learning strategy by educators to facilitatestudents' learning.