POSSIBLE IMPACT OF IMPLEMENTING PROJECT BASED LEARNING ON KNOWLEDGE AND SOFT SKILL DEVELOPMENT OF GRADUATE STUDENTS, IN THE CASE OF AAIT, SCHOOL OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING.

Abstract

AAiT is one of the earliest engineering faculties in Ethiopia. School of civil and environmental engineering is the department in this faculty with biggest number of graduates each year. AAiT is currently applying a lecture based learning system which is a kind of “chalk and talk” process. This study focused on the possible impact of implementing a student centered teaching approach called project based learning, which is being implemented in world wide range. The research used a descriptive study. The study has found that the inconvenience of the current teaching approach to come up with the intended skilled man power. The study also figured out that students’ inclination to a practical teaching approach, and found how it may affect positively if project based learning approach is applied in the department of civil and environmental engineering on development of students’ knowledge and soft skill ability using the four month internship program as a model.