Humans have 2 major ways of learning, Memorization with repetition, or engagement.
Traditional learning methods use memorization and repetition. Project-based learning uses engagement and is much more fun!
What is Project-based Learning?
Discover the learning science behind how you develop real skills for the workplace and that help to future-proof yourself via project based learning.
Project-based learning is an approach to how a person learns that involves providing projects or problems that need to be solved, built, or created. Learners use the problem as a launching point for researching new concepts, using trial and error, building solutions and learning as they build, evaluating the options available, making decisions about which solution to pursue, and more.
21st-century skills are skills and abilities that have been identified as important for success in the 21st-century, particularly compared to previous centuries.
Project-based learning is an approach to how a person learns that involves providing projects or problems that need to be solved, built, or created. Learners use the problem as a launching point for researching new concepts, using trial and error, building solutions and learning as they build, evaluating the options available, making decisions about which solution to pursue, and more.
21st-century skills are skills and abilities that have been identified as important for success in the 21st-century, particularly compared to previous centuries.
Active Learning
Project-based learning at its core focuses on the learner, not on an instructor or a professor or a teacher delivering knowledge. Project-based learning and peer code reviews are part of active learning: learners must actively participate, engage, and respond. This is different from passive learning such as lectures, presentations, MOOCs, or watching online videos.
Active learning requires learners to analyze, evaluate, and create. The majority of our curriculum is made up of projects which are essentially problems in the form of “build a solution for XYZ.” As learners research, analyze, build, test, and fix, their engagement is through the roof compared with passive learning and the retention rate is closer to 90% (compared to passive learning at 5-10%).
Active learning requires learners to analyze, evaluate, and create. The majority of our curriculum is made up of projects which are essentially problems in the form of “build a solution for XYZ.” As learners research, analyze, build, test, and fix, their engagement is through the roof compared with passive learning and the retention rate is closer to 90% (compared to passive learning at 5-10%).
FUTURE-PROOF YOURSELF
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A New World of Learning
Gamification Elements
Inspired by research into gamification in video games, online community development, and economic studies, Qwasar uses 6 elements of gamification in learning. These elements are designed to work together to both direct and motivate learners.
Economies, levels, and skills help learners to navigate their own learning and their new technical world while simultaneously allowing them to feel and take confidence in how far they have progressed and what they’re capable of doing.
The reward that comes with finishing a project, plus the responsibility of using correction points wisely, encourages learners to take ownership of their learning, submit work with minimal errors, and progress through their tracks.
Economies, levels, and skills help learners to navigate their own learning and their new technical world while simultaneously allowing them to feel and take confidence in how far they have progressed and what they’re capable of doing.
The reward that comes with finishing a project, plus the responsibility of using correction points wisely, encourages learners to take ownership of their learning, submit work with minimal errors, and progress through their tracks.
A PROEJCT
Earn project or experience points for each project successfully completed.
POINTS
To submit a project for review, to be graded, learners spend points.
Each time a learner completes a peer code review for another learner, they earn points. Learners also earn points each day they log on.
Learners can also earn points by helping out other learners in the community, answering questions in our forums.
GAMIFICATION DESIGN MATTERS
Incorrectly designing a gamification system can have negative effects and results on learner motivation and behaviour. The use of these 6 elements is to encourage learning and to motivate the learner.
The Project-based
Learning Spectrum
Many other tech learning providers claim to do project-based learning, however, just because their learners do one or two projects, it does not mean that they are really doing project-based learning.
Above shows a spectrum of project-based learning: any form of knowledge transmission by a single source of truth (e.g. instructor or professor) takes away from the need to research, analyze, or evaluate, meaning learners don’t build critical thinking or problem-solving skills.
If you aren’t solving problems but are asking for answers from an instructor, then you are hindered in developing problem-solving skills and learning how to be resourceful.
One of the most important things you need to learn to future-proof yourself is how to learn: unless you’re doing real project-based learning, you will depend on someone else to provide answers for you.
Above shows a spectrum of project-based learning: any form of knowledge transmission by a single source of truth (e.g. instructor or professor) takes away from the need to research, analyze, or evaluate, meaning learners don’t build critical thinking or problem-solving skills.
If you aren’t solving problems but are asking for answers from an instructor, then you are hindered in developing problem-solving skills and learning how to be resourceful.
One of the most important things you need to learn to future-proof yourself is how to learn: unless you’re doing real project-based learning, you will depend on someone else to provide answers for you.
Gamification in Learning
Gamification is key to motivation, and motivation is key to learning.
The Traditional Education System Dates back to 1088!
Believe it or not, but the traditional education system dates back to around 1088 when the first university was established. The next one took more than 100 years to form.
It was really the 14-16th century that universities took off.
In the US, it wasn’t until the 1800s that things began.
Access to knowledge was severely limited in these days, so the system was designed to pass down knowledge.
It was really the 14-16th century that universities took off.
In the US, it wasn’t until the 1800s that things began.
Access to knowledge was severely limited in these days, so the system was designed to pass down knowledge.
Today, Knowledge is Accessible and Developing Skills Requires Modern Learning
Access to knowledge has changed dramatically over the last 15 years. Not just search engines, Stack Overflow, and YouTube, but now Generative AI is changing how easy it is to find and consume knowledge.
This means that our value as humans is no longer about what we know, but what we can do – and that means skills.
This means that our value as humans is no longer about what we know, but what we can do – and that means skills.
How It Works
Peer Reviews Are a Learning Tool and Industry Standard
Peer code reviews are an industry standard and part of every engineer or developer’s job. They help maintain high quality, decrease bugs and errors, reduce future tech debt, and more.
Students learn in being reviewed and in reviewing, and are operating at the top four levels of the skills pyramid. Reviewers must evaluate, analyze, think critically, and create ways to break the submitted solution and construct tests.
Students learn in being reviewed and in reviewing, and are operating at the top four levels of the skills pyramid. Reviewers must evaluate, analyze, think critically, and create ways to break the submitted solution and construct tests.
Reviewers must actively participate, engage, and respond. This is different from passive learning such as lectures, presentations, MOOCs, or watching online videos.
remember
understand
apply
remember
understand
apply
understand
apply
analyse
understand
apply
analyse
apply
analyse
evaluate
Create
apply
analyse
evaluate
Create
analyse
evaluate
Create
analyse
evaluate
Create
Create
evaluate
understand
Create
evaluate
understand
evaluate
remember
evaluate
remember
Virtual Webinars
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Student Experience vs. Others
How do Qwasar programs compare to other tech training options out there? Find out how we stack up.
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View Platform
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QWASAR
Modern Learning
Launch yourself into data science and engineering jobs at top-tier companies with confidence, technical skills and a strong portfolio.