Abstract

Two of the major learning problems in education are: students do not build knowledge of higher levels (know-how, know-why, care-why); students have insufficient motivation. A constructive way to solve these problems is the use of project-based collaborative learning (PBCL) model. The aim of this research is to develop and to implement a method of enhancing teaching and learning based on PBCL model. Teaching and learning a course is realized in the following way. First, an instructor teaches the course to a study group through a sample project. Then, the instructor divides the study group into collaborative groups. Each collaborative group performs a separate project. The analysis of results of learning reveals that the majority of the students built know-how and know-why levels of knowledge and studied the course effectively. The method provides: stimulation of knowledge building of higher levels due to determination of assessments of higher values for know-how and know-why levels and due to knowledge evaluation of care-why level; facilitation of knowledge sharing between the students owing to forming knowledge heterogeneous collaborative groups with maximum mutual supplementation of personal knowledge; quality evaluation of collaboration and effectiveness of studying the course by each student; measurement and precise objective evaluation of personal knowledge and collaborative skills which motivates the students for active learning during project work. The method creates theoretical basis for developing a tool of computer-mediated adaptive support for promotion of knowledge building.