Challenges of distance education: How to manage the pedagogical process of project-based learning

ABSTRACTThe article addresses the challenges of distance education, i.e. how to manage the pedagogical process of project-based learning (PBL). The research objective was to use PBL as a teaching method where students learn by actively participating in a real professional task – preparing antenatal classes for future parents. We were also interested in developing recommendations for teachers and organisations using PBL in distance education. The study was conducted as mixed-methods research, using qualitative and quantitative data. Forty-four students and 131 future parents participated in the study. Results showed the importance of managing the PBL: learning environment, teamwork, mentoring and the use of information technologies and tools for learning purposes with appropriate didactic and learning strategies. The pedagogical process of PBL in distance education is based on interactive modelling of ICT and virtual reality with didactically integrating professional knowledge and skills in the virtual pedagogical process.KEYWORDS: Distance educationvirtual learning environmentPBLICTstudentsevaluation Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Authors ContributionsAnita Jug Došler, Tita Stanek Zidarič and Metka Skubic: Conceptualisation, Investigation, Formal analysis, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing.Notes1. The results of the analysis were also one of the topics of the focus interviews.Additional informationNotes on contributorsAnita Jug DošlerAnita Jug Došler is a Senior Lecturer and Teaching Assistant at Midwifery Department at Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana. Her research interests include the quality of learning and teaching, pedagogy and mixed methods research and practise. She holds a PhD degree in Pedagogy in the field of Educational Sciences and Teacher Education.Tita Stanek ZidaričTita Stanek Zidarič is a Senior Lecturer at Midwifery Department at Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana. She is involved in research in the field of human reproduction and midwifery. She is a delegate for Slovenia at the International Confederation of Midwives. She is a PhD candidate at School of Advanced Social Studies. She is an internationally certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) in the field of breastfeeding for more than ten years.Metka SkubicMetka Skubic is a Lecturer at Midwifery Department at Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana. Her research interests include midwifery, andragogy and counselling and therapeutic work with women and their families. Her doctoral dissertation was on the topic of Experiences of motherhood and a supportive therapeutic model in the transition to parenthood in women with the experience of giving birth by caesarean section.