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Enhancing College Students’ Life Skills through Project Based Learning

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Abstract

This study examined whether life skills could be developed in a Project Based Learning (PBL) course. The participants were students enrolled in a graduate level PBL course. The same 35-question survey was given to students at the beginning and end of the course, and students were asked to rank their life skills using a Likert scale. Additionally, we interviewed three students in order to capture some of the student’s views on the use of PBL. A paired sample t – test revealed that there was no significant difference from survey 1 to survey 2 in time management, collaboration, and work ethic; but there was a significant difference from survey 1 to survey 2 in responsibility, problem solving, self-direction, communication, and creativity. However, on average all life skills showed an increase. The interviews also indicated that PBL allowed students to practice and develop life skills.

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Correspondence to Scott Wurdinger.

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Wurdinger, S., Qureshi, M. Enhancing College Students’ Life Skills through Project Based Learning. Innov High Educ 40, 279–286 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-014-9314-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-014-9314-3

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