Project Based Learning

Project based learning is a student eccentric pedagogy that is focused on learning by doing. Project based learning has shifted the learning from paper-based, teacher-led instructions to the learning which carries active style of learning by involving the students to solve different set of problems in a team. This learning methodology has become the core part of curriculum across the world which is totally inclined towards the inculcating passion, creativity and team work in a student.

John Dewey promoted the idea of ‘Learning by Doing’ in My Pedagogical Creed (1897).  Dewey mentioned that “The teacher is not in the school to impose certain ideas or to form certain

habits in the child, but is there as a member of the community to select the influences which shall affect the child and to assist him in properly responding to these.......I believe, therefore, in the so-called expressive or constructive activities as the center of correlation” This idea of teaching and learning was has been promoted as methodology known today as project based learning. It has also been analyzed that the scored obtained by students involved in project-based learning are better than the scores obtained by students involved in tradition classroom learning practices.

We, at The NorthCap University also employ project based learning as teaching-learning pedagogy.  Using this practice, faculty members teach each and every concept of a course with small guided problems and unguided problems. Guided problems are the ones which are solved in a step-wise manner in class-room itself. Different students are then assigned different set of unguided problem statements to be solved. This enhances their concept learning by practicing on different problems related to the similar concept.

At the end of each course, students are involved in guided project problem which are solved by them based on guidelines provided by the concern faculty. Once they are done with guided project, students are supposed to provide the solution of unguided project problems. These problems are to be solved in team work. This forces the students to investigate the problem and corresponding solutions. Since the solutions are evaluated on regular basis throughout the time, they work on unguided project problem, each and every member of the team in involved in solving the problem and providing the solution in the best-possible manner.

While preparing the solutions, students first work on blueprint of the solution and then start working in implementation of the blueprint. The most appreciated phase of project based learning is inculcation of communication/presentation skills along with the ability to work in team. These are the assets that students get from project based learning apart from the technical skills they get from the different courses they have learned during the degree program.

Hence project based learning ensures day one readiness of our students in the industry they are going to face in real-world. Project based learning enhances overall development of a student ranging from technical skills to inter-personal skills. This also ensures the concept delivery by the student and hence confidence to communicate is also developed as a part of project based learning.

Dr Suman Bhatia,

 Assistant Professor