Perceções dos estudantes quanto à Aprendizagem Baseada em Projetos na Unidade Curricular Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação em Contextos Profissionais

Abstract

This article reflects on the teaching of Information and Communication Technologies in Professional Contexts to students in the first year of a degree in Sociocultural Animation. The main aim of this curricular unit (CU) was to develop digital citizenship and stimulate students' personal and professional growth through active learning strategies. The study involved 30 students and the course was taught by three teachers in the second semester of the 2022/23 academic year. The objectives included analysing software, integrating technology into the profession, planning interventions, using software and online tools, creating multimedia presentations, organizing digital portfolios and working with distance learning platforms. Student-centred teaching strategies, such as Project-Based Learning (PBL), were adopted to prioritize real-world, experiential learning and project planning and management. The activities focused on situated learning and community service, allowing students to implement their projects with target audiences they identified. The results of a questionnaire applied at the end of the semester indicated positive perceptions of the teaching strategies used, with a particular focus on the areas of learning, motivation and future performance. The use of PBL in this higher education training context was perceived as having a positive effect on students' performance.