Engagement in a mixed-method course: The case of project management

摘要

Engineers nowadays require knowledge about many topics to succeed in the workplace. The Project Management course provides tools to understand and plan projects in large scale, including financial topics. The course is usually taught in a theoretical manner, with the professor explaining concepts and the students developing homework and written exams. Student performance in the course was good, but engagement during the class was perceived to be very low. As a result, the professor decided to change the course and used three different methods: evidence-centered assessment design, project based learning and experiential learning. At the end of the semester, students took a NSSE (National Survey of Student Engagement) survey [1]. Results show student engagement in different activities performed during the class, favoring a mixed-methods class over a traditional one. Additionally, students in the mixed-method course improved their final grades compared to students in the traditional class.