Using PBL To Publish A Book With Final Year Students

Abstract

Introduction This submission is a reflection on the experience of applying a Problem Based Learning Approach to completing a 4th Year Final Year Project (FYP). This piece begins with a brief description of the PBL process and then a reflection on the experience and identification of lessons for the future. Outline of the Project In September 2021, the 4TH Year students of the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Programme in TUS Mid West (Thurles) set out on the journey of completing their FYP using a Problem Based (PBL) approach. PBL is a process of interest to educators ‘because of its emphasis on active, transferable learning and its potential for motivating students. (Hmelo-Silver, 2004). The project was supported by two modules one in semester 1 and the second in semester 2. This Module required that “As a final year capstone module students educated in early childhood education will have to address research skills and carry out some form of practice-based research. To provide students with the opportunity to complete this research… and approach the process in a creative and innovative manner, this module will take place over the entire academic year and be allocated 10 credits. Students will have to engage with a number of Problem Based Learning (PBL) type activities and carry out a small piece of related Action Research (AR) followed by a submission of a short project/thesis/floor book outlining their work, analysis and findings….”