Project-Based Learning and Perceived Overlap of Self-Regulation and Project-based Learning Techniques for Students with Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Case Study

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perception of educators transitioning from a traditional learning environment to a project-based learning (PBL). Teachers’ perception of student self-regulation in ages from 8 to 17 were captured. Data were collected from 1-1 interviews with five participants with Missouri teacher certification ranging in grade levels from elementary to high school working with a total of 175 students within a mental health residential school throughout Missouri. Additional data were collected from daily logs, participant interviews, behavioral logs, and regulation logs from classrooms of students with the same background as teacher participants over the last four school years, 2018-22, of teachers who have taught project-based learning units. Daily logs, regulation logs, behavioral logs, and participant interview responses were manually coded twice and then coded a third time using electronic coding via NVivo to ensure bias from Dr Foster was not present. This study supports using project-based learning units with students who have a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). While study findings support the teacher perception that project-based learning activities increase self-regulation from interview responses, regulation logs, and daily logs data could not triangulate this perceived relationship. These findings support the importance of relationships with students with ACEs during PBL to increase self-regulation.