Learning by projects
If project-based learning is widespread today in the training universe ; at Epitech, we are pioneers of this method and we put it at the core of our school. We value the project as a learning tool, which makes it possible to acquire knowledge in a more efficient, sustainable way and above all adaptable to tomorrow’s world.
What is Epitech project learning?
An agile methodology
It’s an agile method of learning in a sustainable and constructive way.
Dynamic and collective, it is based on shared dialogue, collaborative work, and the variety of projects and the proximity to the business world.
Long-term expertise
The project is thereby at the origin of learning, that is to say, through their experiences, their successes, their research, but also their failures ; students keep in mind best-practice methods of reasoning and skills development and thus acquire long-term proficiency.
Learning by Doing
By working on projects for which they do not necessarily have notions beforehand, the students experiment, make mistakes, move forward, and go back. It is an empirical method of “Learning by Doing”. It doesn’t matter if one is wrong … Because it is indeed the practice and the use that will leave a mark in the minds of the students via cognitive reflexes. The analysis will then come a posteriori, and the theory will flow naturally from these experiences.
Inductive and active pedagogy
The project is used as part of an inductive and active teaching. Inductive because knowledge is induced from experience ; active because students are at the center of this learning. They are not mere repositories of knowledge, but will voluntarily seek information in a very practical and concrete framework to then go on and theorize it.
Students are invited to develop professional projects, for their own interest or for that of companies. During the implementation of these projects, they leave, in a very natural way, in search of knowledge that they do not have. This is how by exploring, through sharing and research, theory intervenes in an almost insidious way in their daily lives. Furthermore, the fact of working on concrete projects with a real purpose is also much more stimulating for the students. At Epitech, we believe that knowledge is only valuable if you put it in perspective.
Socio-cognitive conflict
Project-based teaching is based on a collaborative system and on group dynamics. Collective intelligence develops work mechanisms and skills, in short, as in working life.
But teamwork sometimes has its share of disagreements, which can be extremely beneficial for learning. This is called socio-cognitive conflict, a formative step because it allows you to become aware of the point of view of the other. So, we have to find common ground, get out of our comfort zone, and the simple fact that a third-party casts doubt on our own thinking necessarily leads us to question ourselves. Trying to convince others can also be a constructive challenge in the deployment of a project. These are all driving forces for personal development and consolidation of knowledge.
Today emblematic, the Epitech Pool periods represent the perfect example of the implementation of our learning by projects.
