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

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.
  • Corporate Authors:

    Transportation Research Board

    500 Fifth Street, NW
    Washington, DC  United States  20001
  • Authors:
    • Rahman, Ziaur
    • Madanu, Sunil K
    • Mattingly, Stephen P
    • Casey, Colleen
  • Conference:
  • Date: 2016

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 15p
  • Monograph Title: TRB 95th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01589908
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 16-5900
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Feb 8 2016 10:32AM