Project-based learning: coding their future
A pedagogy based on practicing, right from the start
In Cambodia the teaching habits are still very traditional: the teacher is seen as a source of knowledge, and the students passively listen. To answer this, WMAD innovates with the active pedagogy and the project-based learning.
The basis of this pilot project is that the students are active in the classroom, and participate to the lesson. In WMAD, students basically spend their whole day coding and practicing their skills!
The second founding idea of WMAD’s pedagogy, is the project-based learning. The students won’t be taught a lesson and asked to do exercises. Instead, since day one, the teachers give them their first project to deliver within three weeks. To success to this mission, they can count on the support of the teacher will provide a lot of resources, courses, and support them whenever they need it, but also on their motivation to learn new tools and process.
“With traditional pedagogies, as a student, you know that in the classroom, you have to be quiet and listen to the teacher and it's not very fun. I think that here, students are in an environment where we provide more flexibility and projects that they actually have fun doing. They even ask us to open the classroom on weekends!.”
Luis JUAN, project manager of the web development vocational training in PSE.
Real projects, like at the office
The best way to learn new skills is to use them, but in teams! The students spend their days working together to match the reality of work. Different objectives, sometimes individual, sometimes in groups of two or three, sometimes the deadline is very short, sometimes it is not… The students are trained to a lot of different situations, and are mentored by senior web developers during their internship to help them get their final experience and join the professional world.
The students themselves often say that they feel confident, and are able to face real projects and team work. In a few words, in PSE, we are training skilled web developers, because we want them to find a job after their two years of studies.
“There is no better way to train somebody to find a job as a developer in a company than spending two years working in a safe space where if they make mistakes, there is not a problem.” Luis JUAN, project manager for the launch of a new web development vocational training in PSE.
To make them feel as listened as possible, a group feedback is organized every two weeks in class, and each student shares his feelings. When you pass the hallway at this time of the week, you can hear claps, encouragements and laughs.
A professional training… led by professionals only!
Supported by Simplon, an expert of vocational training in the IT sector, PSE got the needed help and the methodology to create the pedagogy of this new training. And to make it happen, two teachers were recruited to join the adventure… Who aren’t actually teachers!
In the WMAD course of PSE, the teachers are actual web developers with no teaching experience. To be able to teach, who were trained to share their expertise, but also adapt to this new pedagogy they had never heard of before! A huge challenge for these professionals who have to imagine realistic projects and case studies, play the role of managers of working teams, and keep their technical level to share everything they know.
A win-win for students and teachers, who can create a strong relationship with the students, and support them the best they can.
“The teaching techniques in my WMAD class are really amazing. My instructors are very professional, they go straight to the point, and teach us everything from scratch. I hope that after I graduate, I will get that job as I have been dreaming of.”
Visal, 23 years old, student of the WMAD course.
High implication for high motivation
In PSE, we believe that students cannot learn if they don’t feel well. Since our students come from different backgrounds, with sometimes complicated situations, the staff ensures a close follow-up of each student, to support them even in their personal life’s problems. The goal is to make them feel safe, and motivated to go in the classroom without wanting to quit.
“At first, we were thinking that with this pedagogy, we might lose some students. Our objective at the beginning was to keep the dropout rate below 15%. Actually, we have zero percent of dropout. Because the team is doing such an amazing job motivating the students, but also because we are extremely close with them.” Luis JUAN, project manager for the launch of a new web development vocational training in PSE.
Every week, the students individually fill a form to answer a few questions on how they feel. Thanks to this method, the staff can react quickly if a student needs its support.
And to go further on motivation, one of the up-coming projects is to encourage the second-year students to be mentors for the first-year students to consolidate their knowledge, and share their experience.
Regarding this success, the next promotion for October 2025 is currently in the process of recruitment!
A success made possible thanks to sponsorship
Since the beginning of their actions in Cambodia, Christian and Marie-France des Pallières, the founders of PSE, have chosen to rely on sponsorship to ensure the sustainability of the association's programmes. The commitment we make to the children is strong: we lead them from misery to a profession!
The comprehensive care we offer the children is long-term. We commit ourselves to the end and do not leave any child by the side of the road.