A Proposal for the Continuous Improvement of PBL Classes Aimed at Acquiring Fundamental Competencies for Working Persons

Abstract

Project-based Learning (PBL) is often conducted in accordance with the experience and expertise of the faculty member leading a class. In this paper, methods for the continuous improvement of PBL-focused classes aimed at imparting fundamental competencies for working persons to students are discussed. Specifically, the success factors and learning outcomes for PBL-focused lessons were structuralized, and a multiple regression analysis was employed to depict the relationship between these factors and the class outcomes. The results revealed that the factors that were effective in enhancing learning outcomes, and a plan for improving such lessons was produced accordingly. Furthermore, we formulated and implemented improvement measures for PBL-focused courses offered by the Faculty of Management and Information Studies at Suwa University of Science. We confirmed that the degree of achievement of the success factors changed as a result of implementing the improvement measures. Next, the degree of achievement of learning outcomes changed accordingly. Essentially, the study revealed that, through improvements to PBL-focused lessons made as a result of depicting PBL’s success factors and learning outcomes, continuous improvement of student outcomes is possible.