Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Intervention Using Project-Based Learning on Postpandemic Recovery in Rural Colombia

This study evaluates the impact of a Project-Based Learning (PBL) intervention on postpandemic educational recovery in rural Colombia, focusing on student competencies in mathematics, language, science, and 21st-century skills. Conducted in rural schools, the intervention aimed to address significan...

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Main Authors: Mercedes Carmen Arrieta-Cohen, Luz Angela Torres-Arizal, Ricardo León Gómez-Yepes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/12/1341
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author Mercedes Carmen Arrieta-Cohen
Luz Angela Torres-Arizal
Ricardo León Gómez-Yepes
author_facet Mercedes Carmen Arrieta-Cohen
Luz Angela Torres-Arizal
Ricardo León Gómez-Yepes
author_sort Mercedes Carmen Arrieta-Cohen
collection DOAJ
description This study evaluates the impact of a Project-Based Learning (PBL) intervention on postpandemic educational recovery in rural Colombia, focusing on student competencies in mathematics, language, science, and 21st-century skills. Conducted in rural schools, the intervention aimed to address significant learning gaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing teacher training and direct student support. A pretest–posttest single-group design was used to assess the effectiveness of the intervention, with standardized tests measuring academic competencies and an analytical rubric evaluating 21st-century skills. The results indicate significant improvements in math, language, and science test scores, with notable gains in problem-solving, collaborative work, communication, and critical thinking. However, a decline in creativity scores highlights the need for a stronger emphasis on fostering creativity within the PBL framework. Gender differences were observed, with female students generally outperforming males, suggesting the need for tailored instructional approaches. This study’s limitations, including the absence of a control group, nonrandom sampling, and the use of subjective assessment methods, are acknowledged, with recommendations for future research to address these issues. Despite these limitations, the findings underscore the potential of PBL to enhance student learning outcomes in rural settings, offering valuable insights for educators and policymakers aiming to support educational recovery and development in similar contexts. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term effects of PBL and to refine the intervention for broader implementation.
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spelling doaj-art-eb9f8d3460ad4b3f9e9dde55ec8aed322025-08-20T02:53:41ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022024-12-011412134110.3390/educsci14121341Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Intervention Using Project-Based Learning on Postpandemic Recovery in Rural ColombiaMercedes Carmen Arrieta-Cohen0Luz Angela Torres-Arizal1Ricardo León Gómez-Yepes2Center of Science and Technology of Antioquia (CTA), Medellín 050013, ColombiaCenter of Science and Technology of Antioquia (CTA), Medellín 050013, ColombiaCollege of Education, University of Antioquia, Medellín 050034, ColombiaThis study evaluates the impact of a Project-Based Learning (PBL) intervention on postpandemic educational recovery in rural Colombia, focusing on student competencies in mathematics, language, science, and 21st-century skills. Conducted in rural schools, the intervention aimed to address significant learning gaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing teacher training and direct student support. A pretest–posttest single-group design was used to assess the effectiveness of the intervention, with standardized tests measuring academic competencies and an analytical rubric evaluating 21st-century skills. The results indicate significant improvements in math, language, and science test scores, with notable gains in problem-solving, collaborative work, communication, and critical thinking. However, a decline in creativity scores highlights the need for a stronger emphasis on fostering creativity within the PBL framework. Gender differences were observed, with female students generally outperforming males, suggesting the need for tailored instructional approaches. This study’s limitations, including the absence of a control group, nonrandom sampling, and the use of subjective assessment methods, are acknowledged, with recommendations for future research to address these issues. Despite these limitations, the findings underscore the potential of PBL to enhance student learning outcomes in rural settings, offering valuable insights for educators and policymakers aiming to support educational recovery and development in similar contexts. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term effects of PBL and to refine the intervention for broader implementation.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/12/1341project-based learningrural education21st-century skillsevidence-centered designdepth of knowledgeprogram evaluation
spellingShingle Mercedes Carmen Arrieta-Cohen
Luz Angela Torres-Arizal
Ricardo León Gómez-Yepes
Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Intervention Using Project-Based Learning on Postpandemic Recovery in Rural Colombia
Education Sciences
project-based learning
rural education
21st-century skills
evidence-centered design
depth of knowledge
program evaluation
title Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Intervention Using Project-Based Learning on Postpandemic Recovery in Rural Colombia
title_full Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Intervention Using Project-Based Learning on Postpandemic Recovery in Rural Colombia
title_fullStr Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Intervention Using Project-Based Learning on Postpandemic Recovery in Rural Colombia
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Intervention Using Project-Based Learning on Postpandemic Recovery in Rural Colombia
title_short Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Intervention Using Project-Based Learning on Postpandemic Recovery in Rural Colombia
title_sort evaluating the impact of an educational intervention using project based learning on postpandemic recovery in rural colombia
topic project-based learning
rural education
21st-century skills
evidence-centered design
depth of knowledge
program evaluation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/14/12/1341
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