The development and implementation of a coaching model for project-based learning

During the last decade the S&E Faculties of the KU Leuven have been investing heavily in the implementation and optimalisation of student-centred teaching with project-based learning. Because the correct interpretation of the coaching role is crucial for the success of PBL and the (self-)development of the students, a research project was started to develop, implement and validate a coaching model that helps the coaches with defining the best coaching method for each specific project. Firstly, a framework was created that collects and defines all the coaching roles. Based on this framework a survey was conducted to study the role of the coach in PBL. A statistical analysis of these surveys was done to map out the relationship between the coaching roles, the learning objectives and the learning outcome. These results were then used to develop a coaching model, which presents the coaches with the optimal coaching for a specific project, based on the details of this project. Finally an accompanying web application and manual were developed to facilitate the use and dissemination of the coaching model in the educational practice.status: publishe