Replacing Exams with Project-Based Assessment: Analysis of Students’ Performance and Experience

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate whether project-based assignments can lead to better student performance and learning experience compared to traditional examinations. In an engineering course of soil mechanics, the traditional mid-semester and final exams were replaced by project work which was related to a real-life site investigation. Student performance was evaluated on the basis of student marks whilst student feedback was analysed to understand student experience with project-based assignments. The results indicated that the student average mark for the projects was greater than the average mark for the exams. In addition, their learning experience improved after the exams were replaced with the project-based assignments because students were able to see practical applications of the course content. However, a few issues, including feedback to students delivered at the end of the term, increased teacher’s workload, and the effect of COVID were also identified.

Keywords

• final exam
• feedback
• assignment
• student learning
• project-based assessment
• engineering education