For almost 20 years, I have used experiential learning as an important part of my teaching methodology. I have taught across disciplines in business and always try to incorporate projects if they can support the learning objectives. Projects engage students in ways traditional methods often cannot, pushing them to think more critically and deeply. They challenge students to operate at a higher level than other forms of assessment.

Quizzes and exams are largely one-dimensional, with answers that are simply right or wrong. Projects, on the other hand, require multi-dimensional thinking. Students have to weigh both correct and incorrect solutions. They also have to consider how their choices interact with people, resources, and broader contexts. Time is another factor because exams are bound to a single class period, but projects can demand students think about outcomes across extended timelines. This builds skills in the areas of long-term planning and execution.

When I first began teaching Microsoft Office applications, much of my time was spent lecturing and explaining skills in class. Over time, however, I noticed students often disengaged during lectures and frequently asked about concepts I had just covered.

fter the pandemic, I shifted my approach, moving Excel and Access projects from homework into the classroom. This change allowed me to focus less on explaining isolated skills and more on guiding students through interactivity of skills that occurs in project-based learning.

Now, I structure these courses around weekly projects. Each week, students complete a lesson, an exam, and two SIMnet® projects. We work through the easy-level projects in class, while the more challenging projects are assigned for homework. This approach reinforces skills during guided class time and encourages independent application outside of class, creating a deeper and more engaging learning experience.

Before making these changes, I required students to complete both projects independently. The challenge, however, was that they continued to ask very basic questions, even after I had already covered the material. This forced me to reteach the same concepts. To address this, I altered my approach by completing one of the assigned projects collectively in class, giving students real-time support and clarity before tackling the more difficult project on their own.

When covering a project with students, I project it on the screen and walk through the easy-level SIMnet project step by step, pausing after each instruction to ensure everyone is caught up. This creates space for questions, especially when students get stuck on technical aspects of a skill.

Working slowly and progressively has produced some interesting outcomes. Students gain a stronger grasp of advanced skills, ask far fewer questions on the second project, and become more engaged when I pause to explain concepts in a broader, more applied context. They begin to see not just how to use the skill, but why it matters.

This approach also levels the playing field. In application-based courses, students who already have strong skills are often bored, while others are easily lost. By working collectively, students who struggle feel supported, while more advanced students often step in to help their peers. This has transformed the classroom into a collaborative learning environment for Excel and Access.

There are costs to this method. Covering a single project step-by-step takes nearly a full class period and is physically draining. I’m simultaneously demonstrating the task in the project, monitoring who is keeping up, assisting those who fall behind, and managing the pace of the entire group. There are also moments of vulnerability that can be uncomfortable.

Even with 30 years of experience, it is not uncommon to encounter a challenging step in a project. Being willing to admit uncertainty and model problem-solving is part of the process. Despite these costs, the benefits are that students gain deeper understanding, greater engagement, and a collaborative classroom culture. These outcomes make the approach well worth it.