Stop sanitizing project management education: Embracing Desirable Difficulties to enhance practice-relevant online learning
Article
Article Title | Stop sanitizing project management education: Embracing Desirable Difficulties to enhance practice-relevant online learning |
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ERA Journal ID | 213997 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | van der Hoorn, Bronte (Author) and Killen, Catherine P. (Author) |
Journal Title | Project Leadership and Society |
Journal Citation | 2, pp. 1-9 |
Article Number | 100027 |
Number of Pages | 9 |
Year | 2021 |
Publisher | Elsevier BV |
Place of Publication | Netherlands |
ISSN | 2666-7215 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plas.2021.100027 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666721521000211 |
Abstract | By resisting the temptation to 'sanitize' project management education, we show how embracing unpredictability and authenticity can enhance learning. In response to COVID-19 restrictions, we moved an interactive role-play online and explored the resultant learning through analysis of student performance and students’ individual reflections. Findings suggest that the online role-play boosted learning by exposing students to a challenging environment, which included tasks that stretched their capabilities and thus enhanced the level of 'Desirable Difficulties'. Drawing on the concepts of Desirable Difficulties and 'role-play-as-rehearsal', we discuss the benefits of formative 'testing' and propose a new concept: 'role-play-as-testing'. Additionally, benefits to learning were attributed to the online setting, which reflects the increasing virtualization of practice. We hope to inspire other educators to embrace Desirable Difficulties and resist the temptation to sanitize project management education to create opportunities for future project leaders to test their learning in authentic settings. |
Keywords | Project management education, Online, Desirable difficulties, Role-play |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 350713. Project management |
Byline Affiliations | University of Southern Queensland |
University of Technology Sydney | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q6qw8/stop-sanitizing-project-management-education-embracing-desirable-difficulties-to-enhance-practice-relevant-online-learning
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