Integration of Project Management in Project based Learning

Abstract

In the learning environment including schools and university training centers,the most important thing is that learners must accomplish the learning outcomes. In order to do that teachers or mentors design many activities. These activities should engage learners and increase learner motivations. Learners should be challenged with real-life problems to gain real experience. Experts of education suggest that teachers as facilitators should carry out project based learning (PBL) to provide such an active and engaging learning environment. Especially, developed countries apply project-based learning because of the importance and effectiveness of the method. In the literature, notably many researches have proved effectiveness and utility of the PBL. Students enjoy working ona project because they may select the kind of project that they would like to do. While they are working on a project they must collaborate, communicate and solve problems. They also need to be creative and critical thinkers. All such characters belong to the 21st century skillset. That means students can achieve 21st century skills when they engage in a project. PBL is in accordance with constructivist and connectivist approaches to encouragestudents to be more engaged and organize cognitive structures individually with the help of society and learning environment. In the learning environment many teachers use project-based learning without explaining how to manage project professionally. Some of the projects don’t get completed on time, on budget and within the scope because of the lack of project management skills. So, experts must integrate project management in project-based learning. As a result of the integration of PM in PBL, the learners will be able to complete their projects on time, on budget and within scope. Also students will be able to acquire 21st century skills and achieve learning outcome of a course. In this paper the aim is to explain how to integrate project management in project-based learning and to introduce a sample curriculum that was developed for such integration. In this paper, a real time implementation process illustrates the integration process. At the end of the integration of the integration of the curriculum of PM in PBL all learners were able to complete their projects on time and within scope while working in a group. One of the teams got first place in the National Challenge in all Texas Region in the U.S.A. after implementing project management skills in project based learning. This proves that the method works.