Engineering Undergraduates’ Learning Experiences through Project-Based Learning Activities

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the learning experiences of engineering undergraduates through Project-Based Learning (PBL) activities. The study was conducted over an 8-month period with 1st-year undergraduate students (N=84) at A University, a small-sized 4-year university, in South Korea in 2022. Through a comprehensive analysis of PBL activity status, course evaluations for the first and second semesters, and data from focus group interviews (N=12), the students' PBL activities and learning experiences were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The key findings are as follows. First, students experienced "hands-on experiential learning”, recognized the need for "reducing the project workload”, and engaged in "self-directed learning design” through PBL activities. Second, students learned how to be a good team player by collaborating with colleagues and how to accomplish their learning goals as active learners in various project tasks.