Project oriented immersion learning: method and results

A pedagogical approach called "project oriented immersion learning" is presented and tested on a graduate online course. The approach combines the Project Oriented Learning method with immersion learning in a virtual enterprise. Students assumed the role of authors hired by a fictitious publishing house that develops digital products including e-books, tutorials, Web sites and so on. The students defined the problem that their product was to solve; choose the type of product and the content; and built the product following a strict project methodology. A wild server was used as a platform to hold the intranet of the editorial company and to keep process documentation, reflections and end products. The publishing house was itself structured as a learning organization that also implements knowledge management. We describe the pedagogical principles of the approach and the design, processes and results of the course in which both Danish and Mexican students took part.