COLLABORATIVE PROJECT-BASED LEARNING: AN EXPERIENCE

This paper presents, from the point of view of learning, the results obtained in a subject that is taught following the philosophy of project-based learning. Each academic year, all the students of the teaching group of the Multimedia Technologies at the University of Almeria develop, in a controlled manner in time and in procedure, a novel project (all students work in parallel on the same project), following a strict protocol based on the resolution of small issues, analysis, and adoption of the best solution achieved, with the idea of continuing to implement the project based on the best found solution until that moment. With this methodology (an iterative process of issues definition, proposals implementation, in-classroom presentation of the proposals, and adoption of the best proposal), the students develop their skills to solve problems, work in groups, increase their critical sense, speak in public, and get an idea of the way of working with which they will find in many companies, especially in those related to technology. In addition, thanks to the continuous evaluation process, the students know their performance in the subject as they are studying it, which significantly increases the percentage of success. The obtained results compare objectively different academic parameters, such as the number of students enrolled and the ratio of students who pass, before and after this new form of learning, showing a positive tendency.