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Title:

A Project-Based Learning Approach to Teach Concepts of Active Commuting

Accession Number:

01589908

Record Type:

Component

Abstract:

The purpose of the paper is to present the results of an active-based learning intervention designed to teach college junior-level, engineering students about infrastructure for nonmotorized, active transportation. Due to pressures related to the demands of the professional engineering exams, students often receive more classroom exposure to engineering concepts related to motorized travel, and less to those that related to nonmotorized forms of transportation. Yet, at the same time, federal legislation and programs emphasize the inclusion of nonmotorized, active modes of transportation as part of an overall transportation planning strategy. The use of active-based learning techniques can be an effective pedagogical strategy to facilitate student learning in new areas. The assumption is that student learning will improve through engagement in real world engineering applications. The intervention requires students to collect data on different transportation facilities and analyze the effectiveness of the facilities in meeting the needs of active commuters. The research team uses a single group pretest-posttest design to assess the student learning that occurs. Student learning is assessed along two dimensions: Question-based improvement and level of learning using Bloom’s Taxonomy. Pre- and posttest data is analyzed using paired t-tests and student reports and observations are analyzed for qualitative themes. Overall, students show significant learning gains related to some concepts of active commuting; however learning gains vary based on exposure and preexisting level of knowledge. The findings have implications for researchers and educators interested in developing models and frameworks of effective project-based learning.

Supplemental Notes:

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ABG20 Standing Committee on Transportation Education and Training.

Monograph Accession #:

01584066

Report/Paper Numbers:

16-5900

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Rahman, Ziaur
Madanu, Sunil K
Mattingly, Stephen P
Casey, Colleen

Pagination:

15p

Publication Date:

2016

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2016-1-10 to 2016-1-14
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

Digital/other

Features:

Figures; References; Tables

Subject Areas:

Education and Training; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; I10: Economics and Administration

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2016 Paper #16-5900

Files:

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Jan 12 2016 6:37PM