In the last two decades, ignoring the bulk of educational research findings, policymakers shaped educational policy into a standardized testing movement that now dominates education. Now, to comply with No Child Left Behind, teachers and administrators shape curriculum in a way that maximizes student achievement measured by these tests. Recently, business and educational leaders initiated a reform movement to broaden curriculum, narrowed by this inadequate standardized testing movement, so that necessary 21st century learning skills can be practiced through project-based learning. The Federal Government’s enforcement of power over education created the climate that defined the current educational policy that gave birth to the standardized testing movement. In this climate, this reform to boost 21st century learning skills does not gain practical traction that results in changed policy, because it is impossible for standardized testing to assess most of these skills and this type of learning due to the limitations of bubbled-multiple choice questions. Instead of shaping policy to foster these 21st century learning skills, policymakers push another reform, through TAP (The System for Teacher and Student Advancement) and Value-Added Assessment. This reform attempts to improve instruction through teacher merit pay--a device that has failed many times in educational reform history. Unfortunately, most TAP systems use standardized tests as the only student achievement measurement, so almost all student achievement gains involving 21st century learning skills and project-based learning are not officially measured. Efforts to use portfolios and authentic assessment, the measurement tools that should be used to measure these higherlevel skills, are not supported by policymakers, because the lack of standardization requires more trust in the assessment ability of local school districts and communities. Consequently, a massive disconnect exists where standardized testing is being reinvigorated instead of de-emphasized, and this comes with the potential price of many teachers and administrators not embracing 21st century learning skills and project-based learning as much as they could if they were not bound by standardized test results. Ultimately, these two reforms that contradict each other involve larger issues of jurisdictional power over education at federal, state, and local levels, and ideological challenges to teacher job security and teacher representation.

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The second and third “middle year” curricula of typical undergraduate electrical and computer engineering (ECE) programs consist of technical courses that teach students the fundamentals of their field. Project-based learning that involves more authentic applications of knowledge is often absent from these courses. These years have notable attrition, but relevant design projects can motivate engineering students by reminding them what they enjoy about the field and showing them that their work can benefit society. In this paper, the author describes a project for a second-year ECE laboratory design course where students design a miniature autonomous tractor robot. This project was created to use skills across first- and second-year courses to make a challenging but achievable capstone aligned with Virginia Tech’s ECE curriculum revision that expands the range of disciplinary experiences for students. The foundational knowledge students will be required to integrate into their de- sign are a simple controls system, microcontroller programming, Bluetooth communication, and circuit design. This paper gives all project assignment materials and an example solution, which is detailed in the sub-system unit tests. The effectiveness of this project in terms of the quality of the materials, the alignment of skills to course goals, the appropriateness to the relevant student population, and encouraging student engagement were qualitatively assessed by pilot studies of usability and faculty assessment. The results verified that this project was designed well and is a good fit for the course. Other benefits of the project’s design are that its context and goals can be adapted between semesters to prevent cheating or to scale the difficulty for the students. The amount of support provided to students from the setup materials can be adapted based on student experience. The assessment of this project showed many options to extend the hardware, software, or theoretical difficulty if needed. When implemented, this project should lead to the integration of technical skills between courses, expose gaps in knowledge, and encourage students to engage with a relevant design context. / M.S. / The second and third years of typical undergraduate electrical and computer engineering (ECE) curricula consist of technical classes that teach students the fundamentals of their field. Project-based learning (solving authentic engineering problems) is often absent from these courses. These years have notable attrition, but relevant design projects can motivate engineering students by reminding them what they enjoy about the field and showing them that their work can benefit society. In this paper, the author describes a project for a second-year ECE laboratory design course that engages students in designing a miniature autonomous tractor. This project was created to use skills across first- and second-year courses to make a challenging but achievable capstone aligned with Virginia Tech’s ECE curriculum revision that expands the range of disciplinary experiences for students. This paper provides all project assignment materials, an example solution, and assessment from faculty and more advanced students. The results verified that this project was designed well and is a good fit for the course. Other benefits of the project’s design are that its context and goals can be adapted between semesters to prevent cheating or to scale the difficulty for the students. When implemented, this project should lead to creative solutions from students that use their prior knowledge in a relevant context.

Project-based learning (PBL) is a teaching approach where students engage in the investigation of real-world problems through their inquiries. Studies found considerable support for PBL on student performance and improvement in grades K-12 and at the collegiate level. However, fewer studies have examined the effects of PBL at the collegiate level in comparison to K-12 education. No studies have examined the effects of PBL with preservice teachers taking educational psychology courses. The purpose of this study was to provide an analysis of PBL with preservice teachers taking educational psychology courses. An experiment was conducted throughout two semesters to evaluate student achievement and satisfaction in an undergraduate educational psychology child development course and in an undergraduate educational psychology assessments course, which included the same students from the first semester. Student achievement was determined using quantitative and qualitative analyses in each semester and longitudinally. Results in semester one indicated that the comparison group outperformed the PBL group. Results in semester two suggested there were no differences in instructional styles between groups. Longitudinal analyses showed that the comparison group declined in performance over time, whereas the PBL group improved over time; although, the comparison group still outperformed the PBL group. Results of this study indicate that PBL was not an influential teaching method for preservice teachers taking educational psychology courses.

The main focus of this thesis is on the effectiveness of project-based learning (PBL) in engineering design. The literature review has shown that there is much confusion and ongoing arguments concerning the implementation of PBL in engineering design, and there lacks consensus on its effectiveness. Little research has been done on providing measurable metrics of PBL effectiveness, not to mention discovering the optimal PBL and its underlying mechanisms based on solid educational theories and rigorous research methodology. In this thesis, the measurement of the optimal PBL effectiveness (effect) is studied and a theoretical model of PBL is built in order to identify parameters (cause) controlling the effectiveness and to study the interplay between effectiveness and the parameters. The model is built through three main phases, with a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. In phase one, the effectiveness of PBL is studied from the perspectives of the engineering design lecturers and engineering graduates by interviews, which is used to represent effect (Y axis) of the model. In phase two, on the basis of self-directed learning theory (SDL) and learner engagement theory,two key parameters of PBL, i.e. SDL and learner engagement, are identified and quantified respectively to represent cause (X axis) of the model. With the key parameters of PBL (X axis) and PBL effectiveness (Y axis) obtained, a theoretical model of PBL is proposed. The model is verified by means of experiments (student self-reported surveys). A specified Moving Average Method (MAM) is used for data analysis and findings demonstrate different trends of the relations between SDL and PBL effectiveness, and between learner engagement and PBL effectiveness. Consequently, a 3D model of PBL is built by combining the data in aforementioned 2D models,through which the optimal PBL effectiveness in 3D are identified and measured and the interplay between different parameters are found. In phase three, in order to find out more delicate features in PBL ignored by MAM, the dynamic interaction of individual differences in PBL teamwork is explored by the ethnological method (including participant observations and interviews), which is conducted as a supplement to the model of PBL. The theoretical model of PBL effectiveness proposed in this thesis is novel and groundbreaking. Firstly, a series of 2D and 3D models are presented and the relations between SDL, learner engagement and PBL effectiveness are revealed for the first time, which provides guidance for the optimal PBL measurement and implementation. Secondly, a qualitatively-quantitatively-combined strategy is used to discover the mechanisms controlling optimal PBL at different scales. Thirdly, the experiments verifying the model provide fresh quantitative insight into optimal PBL. In summary, the research in this thesis opens up a new research methodology for studying PBL effectiveness, which makes contribution to the educational field as well. Keywords: Project-based learning, Self-directed learning, Learner engagement, Optimal PBL effectiveness, 3D model, Individual differences, Engineering design, Pedagogy.

Online learning is increasingly common (Allen & Seaman, 2016). The number of online language teacher education programs also continues to rise to address the growing need for qualified language teachers worldwide (England, 2012b; Hall & Knox, 2009; Murray, 2013). Although technology offers a plethora of possibilities, course design and implementation significantly influence students' online learning experience, likelihood of success, and satisfaction. Using a socio-constructivist, student-centered learning approach can engage students through interaction and collaboration (Garrison, 2013; Murray, 2013). Murray (2013) reported details on what language teacher education programs are offered online, their challenges and how institutions have dealt with them, and highlighted the need for further research to explore the experiences and attitudes of instructors and students. The goal of this three-article dissertation is to gain insights into one online program that prepares teachers of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), which was recently revised to make it more student-centered by implementing a group project. The first article examines benefits and challenges of the group project according to students, teachers, and the teacher training coordinator to determine its value and to provide suggestions. The second article explores instructors' perspectives of their role in the online class and group project and offers suggestions for good practice. Recognizing that online students have diverse needs, the last article analyzes profiles of students enrolled in one class in this program and their perceptions of the Community of Inquiry presences, which have been shown to support intellectual development in online courses. Mixed methods were used including an individual semi-structured interview with students, teachers, and the teacher training coordinator, observations of archived online course documents and posts, an entrance survey, the Community of Inquiry survey as well as anonymous instructor and program evaluations completed by students at the end of the course. Findings provide detailed insights into participants' perceptions of these areas addressed in each article, which shine light on strengths of the student-centered curricular innovation and areas that may need more attention.

This thesis Medicinal plants: analysis of biology textbooks and the project proposal for lower secondary school is focused on project-based learning at lower secondary school on the subject of medicinal plants and on the analysis of biology textbooks in the context of the topic. The first part is devoted to the theoretical bases on the method of project-based learning and theory about medicinal plants. The theoretical part of the project-based learning involves the historical development of project-based learning and the current concept of project-based learning. The theoretical part devoted to medicinal plants presents a view of this issue, focusing on the basic active substances of plants and their harvesting, drying and storage. The following is part of the research, which includes quite an extensive analysis of biology textbooks on the subject of medicinal plants. This section presents a considerable part of the thesis and thus represents a valuable material for teachers who want to deal with medicinal plants in their classes. Another key part of this work is design and implementation of project-based learning on the subject of medicinal plants at the lower secondary school. This chapter is focused on the process of creation of the project "Plant treasures of our garden", which is designed by...