About Experiential Learning

Successful Projects is focused on experiential learning for the improvement of project management-related skills, knowledge, awareness, and preparation for the PMP® certification exam. We create and deliver learning games and activities, practice situations and scenarios, and guide group discussions and other activity-oriented methods to help learners understand, practice, explore, and actively engage in their education and training. We design our training games so that they are positive-sum games, instead of zero-sum games. This allows our participants to learn to look for ways to both win themselves and also to benefit the others in their “community.”

 

Theory of Adult Learning

Successful Projects deals exclusively with adult learners. This means we specialize in “andragogy” – learning strategies focused on adults.

Knowles’ Theory regarding andragogy was developed by American educator Malcolm Knowles.  This theory asserts that adult learning should be distinguished from pedagogy (child-learning) based on the following assumptions:

  1. Adults need to know the reason for learning something (Need to Know)
  2. Experience including error provides the basis for learning activities (Foundation).
  3. Adults need to be responsibile for their decisions on education; involvement in the planning and evaluation of their instruction (Self-concept).
  4. Adults are most interested in learning subjects having immediate relevance to their work and/or personal lives (Readiness).
  5. Adult learning is problem-centered rather than content-oriented (Orientation).
  6. Adults respond better to internal versus external motivators (Motivation). This is why a self-directed approach is better for adults than ‘taught’ education.

Successful Projects has designed the Certificate in Project Management program and adult intelligent discovery learning activities based on these philosophies.

 

References:

  • Knowles, M. (1975). Self-Directed Learning. Chicago. Follet.
  • Kowles, M. (1984). The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species (erd Ed.). Houston, TX: Gulf Publishing.
  • Knowles, M. (1984). Andragogy in Action. San Franciscon: Jossey-Bass.

Recommended Products

PMP Practice Exams

Studying for your PMP?

This exam simulation course is formatted to help prepare you for the PMP exam based on the January 2021 Exam Content Outline and the PMBOK 6th Edition.  

Popular Workbooks

We offer two workbooks to provide thoughtful exercises and tips around key project management topics.

Project Risk Board Game

Project Risk Board Game

  • Learn about Project Risk in this Interactive Game
  • Great for team events and students of project management
  • Learning Aide for Trainers
  • Teach Project Risk Management

Find out More

Contact Us

Want to chat with us about a workshop for your team or learn more about any of our services?

Our Customers

Don’t take if from us, listen to what our customers are saying…

Hear From Our Customers

I have used the “Project Risk Game” with much success over the past few years, whilst I teach Project Management classes.  Delegates really enjoy this fun mode of learning, going by the positive reviews after the training.   In addition to their feedback, I can see that Delegates benefit from the opportunity to learn in a realistic way about project leadership, decision-making, risk evaluation, problem-solving, anticipation and planning, and other useful project management knowledge areas.  I can highly recommend this simulation to all those who teach Project Management – a great teaching and learning tool!

John BlacklawsTMLONE