Lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic to improve project/service-based learning approaches: findings from Engineering students

Abstract

This paper describes a case study based on the implementation of a project/service-based learning approach in the context of a curricular unit of an Engineering Education programme. It discusses the challenges and pedagogic responses found to adapt the teaching and learning process to the pandemic period, reflecting on the lessons learned to improve project/service-based learning approaches. For data collection, an online questionnaire was applied to students to collect feedback about the effectiveness of the approach adopted. The results from the questionnaire indicate that students considered the alternatives implemented by the professor completely adequate to respond to the COVID-19 constraints. The results from students’ projects revealed that they were able to go beyond what was expected from them, by presenting clear and effective outcomes of the implementation of the project in their own domestic environments. Lessons learned include ways to enhance student learning, drawing on examples from students’ own personal contexts.