Assessment of the “project-based learning” strategy

Abstract

One of the challenges in teaching is students’ appropriation of the theoretical concepts presented in class and their subsequent application to the solution of real situations. Objective: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how students feel about the food engineering curriculum at the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, specifically with respect to the “classroom project” teaching strategy used in a variety of theoreticalpractical courses. Method: The “classroom project” is based on learning acquired during the course, which is applied in practice through the development of a project. Students carry out the project, which involves developing or improving a product or process during a sixmonth period. A survey was conducted to verify students’ perception of this teaching strategy. Conclusions: An analysis of the results shows the “classroom project” complements the learning process and is important to professional development. It helps students to transfer the theoretical principles presented in class to the development of critical thinking and insight, besides stimulating an interest in research.