and Baucus (2004) also report on the learning outcome of students as manifested in their successful experiences
gained in planning, managing, and accomplishing projects. Successful experiences include the ability to resolve
conflicts through creative problem solving approaches and the accomplishment of a project that make them more
aware of real life problems and issue. Therefore, PjBL plays a significant role in exposing students to a meaningful
learning process while they are engaged in completing their project.
Bell (2010) states that project based learning (PjBL) promotes social learning as students practice and become
proficient with the 21st century skills of communication, negotiation, and collaboration. Bell further elaborates that
the uses of technology provide instruction to the student by demonstrating innovative usage of various applications
through appropriate ways of using technology. When students share their work or challenges, a brainstorming
session often helps them build on each other’s ideas for future possibilities which promotes creativity and out-ofthe-box
thinking. Gultekin in Bell (2010) affirms that through PjBL students become better researchers, problem
solvers, and higher-order thinkers. Research supports that students using PjBL perform better on both standardized
assessments and project tests than students in traditional direct instruction programs, and that they learn not only
real-world application of skills, but also analytical thinking as stated in Boaler’s study (1999)
In undergoing the process of PjBL, learners are involved in preparing questions to collect relevant information
for their project. Rosen (1998) emphasizes that learners develop questions as a group, divide the work among
individuals or pairs to find answers to selected questions using a variety of sources such as the internet or guest
speakers. Rosen (1998) also states that the criteria for project work are, learners work in a group to select topics of
interest and decide the direction of their learning. They rely on insights from their peers while providing feedback to
others; they may use the teacher as a resource, but by and large, they create their own knowledge.
In PjBL, teacher acts not only as a resource but also as a guide and a facilitator. Referring to teacher’s role in
PjBL, Wrigley (2010) points out that teachers should be aware of their learners’ interests. Teachers also assist
learners move in the direction that they want to go, pointing out potential pitfalls or making suggestions without
getting defensive when students prefer their own ideas. In a study conducted by Donnelly and Fitzmaurice (2005),
the realization of PjBL environment depends to a large extent on the skill of the teacher to lead and facilitate group
discussion. In addition, Donnelly and Fitzmaurice (2005) propagate that teacher needs to move away from their past
practice as the usual teacher to a more facilitatory role. In other words, teacher focuses on questioning students’
logic and beliefs, providing hints to correct invalid student reasoning, providing resources and keeping students on
tasks. Thus, it is inevitable that teacher plays a crucial role in determining the success of project based learning
towards completing a project work.
4. Research Design
Both qualitative and quantitative research will be used in this study to find out if project-based learning
integrated in Workplace Communication course offered by Centre For General Studies UKM equips students with
the necessary skills needed in the real workplace environment. Students’ achievements in carrying out the project
work will be assessed based on the three components namely conferencing, short reports, and oral presentation.
4.1. Instrument
A survey questionnaire was designed and administered to 29 second year students who took Workplace
Communication course from Faculty of Science and Technology and Faculty of Information Technology. It consists
of five sections to elicit students’ responses to project based learning namely as:
A. Project based learning in general (6 items)
B. Collaborative learning (10 items)
C. Listening and speaking (8 items)
D. Reading (8 items)
E. Writing (10 items)
The questionnaire employs a 1 – 5 point Likert scale with 1 being Strongly Disagree and 5 being Strongly Agree.
Section A consists of statements which examines students’ perception of project based learning in general. Section
B surveyed students’ perception on collaborative learning in PjBL. Section C, D, and E gather students’ reflection