Project-based learning (PBL) is a new model of inquiry-based learning that is centered on the concepts and principles of a subject, with the help of multiple resources and continuous inquiry based learning activities in the real world, with the aim of producing a complete project work and solving multiple interrelated problems within a certain period of time. a new student-centered teaching approach, project-based learning directly points to the goal of cultivating 21st-century skills, especially higher-order thinking skills, and higher-order thinking occurs based on problem-solving, a challenging problem that emphasizes real-world situations and open environments, and project-based learning motivates students to continuously explore in the process of problem-solving, thus promoting the development of higher-order thinking. See samples of undergraduate project topics, works & research materials for students
PROJECT BASED LEARNING
The concept of Project-Based Learning (PBL) is not new, but it has recently gained the spot light in education field. In the past decade, studies on PBL have increasingly been conducted and adopted across a diversity of educational institutions worldwide. Researchers have given a variety of definitions for PBL in which they all share several similar disciplines. In terms of its crucial functions, PBL is an instructional approach which is built upon learning activities and real tasks that have brought challenges for students to solve. PBL can be seen as a student-driven (student-centred) approach to learning in which students are required to take part in a real project by developing a question or inquiry and under the supervision of teachers in order to create a project to share with the select audience. In other words, students involve designing their own inquiries, planning their learning, organizing their research, implementing a multitude of learning strategies, and evaluating their projects that have real world applications beyond the classroom. These activities give students the opportunity to work relatively autonomously over extended periods of time; and culminate in realistic products or presentations. When it comes to the teachers‘ role, PBL to is an approach in which teachers act as a facilitator.
STUDENTS LEARNING INTEREST
Learning will be more meaningful if students experience firsthand what they learn by activating more senses in full, rather than just listening to the teacher's explanation and the material is given separately. Especially if it refers to Piaget's theory of cognitive development that elementary school-age children are at a stage of concrete operational development where real experience is really needed by students in learning. The use of innovative learning methods is an alternative choice of solution. One method that can be used is active learning. Active learning is learning that requires students to play a role and be active in the learning process in the form of interaction between students and educators and students and students. Besides, the focus of education is currently still many dwellings on cognitive problems. While the affective and psychomotor aspects did not receive much attention. Most curriculum only designs how students become intellectually intelligent children, achievers, high grades, and get good rankings. While students' morality, creativity, and behavior are not really given attention. As a result, students become selfish human beings, not obedient to the norm, and ignorant in all their deeds
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
Students’ academic gain and learning performance is affected by numerous factor including gender, age, teaching faculty, students schooling, father/guardian social economic status, residential area of students, medium of instructions in schools, tuition trend, daily study hour and accommodation as hostelries or day scholar. Many researchers conducted detailed studies about the factors contributing student performance at different study levels. The measurement of students previous educational outcomes are the most important indicators of students future achievement, this refers that as the higher previous appearance, better the student’s academic performance in future endeavours. Lot of studies have been conducted in the area of students achievement and these studies identify and analyze the number of factors that affect the academic performance of the student at school, college and even at university level. Their finding identify students’ effort, previous schooling, parent’s educational background, family income, self-motivation of students, age of student, learning preferences and entry qualification of students as important factors that have effect on student’s academic performance in different setting. The utility of these studies lies in the need to undertake corrective measures that improve the academic performance of graduate students
PROJECT BASED LEARNING AND STUDENTS PERFORMANCE
In the era of digital transformation of education, the new generation of information technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and metaverse are bringing great changes to education at an unimaginable speed, and at the same time posing unprecedented challenges to talent training. Cultivating students with higher-order thinking skills that can adapt to the future development of society and reasonably cope with the complex real world has become an important mission in the current education reform and development around the world (Ma and Yang, 2021). Different types of problems produce different teaching methods and also guide the development of students’ different thinking skills. Project-based learning, as a new type of teaching and learning method in the context of curriculum and teaching reform, takes real life as the background, is driven by practical problems, breaks the disciplinary boundaries, integrates multiple disciplines into one project, and develops students’ future-oriented abilities——creative thinking, problem raising, problem solving, critical thinking, communication and collaboration, etc. The advantages of this approach over traditional teaching and learning models are being recognized and explored. A large number of studies on the effects of project-based learning have been done, but there is not complete agreement on the effects on the development of students’ thinking skills, academic performance, and affective attitudes. Over the past few decades, project-based learning has received a lot of attention in the field of education. Many studies have shown that project-based learning can improve students’ learning motivation, problem-solving skills, teamwork, and communication skills. However, due to the complexity and diversity of project-based learning, as well as differences in research methods, research findings on its effectiveness and influencing factors vary. A key research question in project-based learning meta-analytic studies is to assess the impact of project-based learning on student learning outcomes, including student performance in the areas of academic achievement, thinking skills, and affective attitudes. By combining the results of multiple independent studies, more accurate and reliable conclusions can be obtained to further understand the effects of project-based learning. In addition, project-based learning meta-analysis studies can help reveal the factors and mechanisms influencing project-based learning