Scaffolding student learning with project management tools for project‐based learning

Abstract:

Project‐based learning (PBL) provides an effective way for integrating high impact practices into a sustainability seminar aimed at professionalization and geospatial competencies. At the same time, PBL poses challenges for both students and instructors. For students, PBL can present group collaboration, self‐management, and active learning challenges. For instructors, PBL can require adaptive management of diverse student activities and careful maintenance of relationships with community partners. This presentation reports on the use of project management tools (e.g., a scoping process, scheduling tools, a reflective project log) to improve project‐based learning process and outcomes. The project management tools were developed out of readings in GIS project management and intended to support a distributed model of project management in an authentic trail mapping project in Farmington, Maine.

Keywords: education, project‐based learning, project management, GIS

Authors: