Project Based Learning

September 2, 2020

Fellows:
Vanessa Birney, Eastern Gateway Community College
Ann Sergent, Terra State Community College
Lea Wandling, Hocking College

Project Advisor:
Mike Snider, Ohio Association of Community Colleges

Executive Summary:
While PBL is not a new concept, it is beginning to invade the realm of higher education. Commonly used in K-12, this innovative teaching method is beginning to take root in colleges across the nation. PBL is an instructional methodology that allows students to work together in groups to learn and apply knowledge through interdisciplinary projects. As many employers today are looking for students with transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem solving, problem-based learning offers students the opportunity to sharpen those attributes prior to entering the workforce. PBL requires students to apply the knowledge and skills that are learned in the classroom to identify a real-world problem and develop a solution while working collaboratively with their classmates. Utilizing PBL in the classroom enhances critical thinking, increases student learning, and retention by engaging students in the learning process and by having them take ownership of their learning.