- About
- Events
- Inquiry Support
- Workshops & Programs
- SoTL 101: Introduction to SoTL and Teaching + Learning Inquiry
- SoTL 102: Formulating an Inquiry Project
- SoTL Thoughts
- Coffee + Conversation
- Tools for Inquiry: Conducting Inquiry Using CES
- Amundsen Fellowship Program
- Decolonial Teaching + Learning Seminar Series
- Decolonizing and Indigenizing Curricula
- Disrupting Colonialism through Teaching Program
- Exploring Well-being in Learning Environments: An Integrated Seminar Series + Grants Program
- Inquiring into Your Multilingual Classroom: An Integrated Seminar Series + Grants Program
- New Ways of Teaching, New Ways of Learning: Supporting Learning in Online Environments
- Open Education Grant Pilot Program
- Teaching and Learning Development Grant Program
- Project Archive
- Amundsen Fellowship Program
- Disrupting Colonialism through Teaching Program
- Exploring Well-being in Learning Environments Program
- Inquiring into Your Multilingual Classroom Projects
- New Ways of Teaching, New Ways of Learning
- Teaching and Learning Development Grant Program
- Scholarship of Teaching + Learning Projects
- Conferences & Calls for Proposals
- Teaching with AI: May 19, 2026 [May 19-28, 2026]
- ETUG Spring 2026 Workshop: Collaboration, Co-creation, and Creativity in EdTech [May 28-29, 2026]
- SFU Library: Scholarly Digital Project Program [Deadline: June 1, 2026]
- Teaching with AI: June 1, 2026 [June 01-10, 2026]
- EDUCAUSE Symposium: New Approaches to Assessment Design for AI-Enabled Learning [June 9 and 11, 2026]
- FLO Workshop: GenAI and the Indigenous 5Rs Framework [June 16, 2026]
- Cfp: 2026 Global Students as Partners Roundtable [Deadline: June 29, 2026]
- Graduate Students/Post-docs Teaching in Higher Education Conference [August 07, 2026]
- 2026 DPI Conference [August 18-20, 2026]
- 2026 Global Students as Partners Roundtable [October 01-02, 2026]
- 2026 SoTL Symposium Conference [October 22-24, 2026]
- For Research Personnel
- News + Stories
- AI as learning coach: project explores ChatGPT integration beyond plagiarism concerns
- Investigating the motivations and perceptions of undergraduate students using AI for assignments
- Faculty teaching confidence soars through peer observation program
- Research proves role plays work: evidence-based approach transforms history and labour studies teaching
- Welcome Kaitlyn Watson!
- Authentic learning transforms large epidemiology course: students find personal meaning in public health research
- Developing AI-resistant teaching through story-centered approach
Specification and Scaffolding in Project-Based Learning of Systems Architecture
Grant program: Teaching and Learning Development Grant Program
Grant recipient: Ouldooz Baghban Karimi, School of Computing Science
Project team: Chris Kerslake, research assistant
Timeframe: October 2020 to August 2021
Funding: $5,000
Course addressed: CMPT 474 - Web Systems Architecture
Final report: View Ouldooz Baghban Karimi's final report (PDF)
Description: For this project, we plan to investigate the learning outcomes of different levels of project specification and scaffolding in Computing Science systems courses, specifically the project element of the Web Systems Architecture course (CMPT 474). Web Systems Architecture is a computer systems course that needs in-depth understanding of cloud-based systems’ architecture, and hands-on experience with public cloud platforms and solutions.
Questions addressed:
- What is the best level of project specification to assist students in achieving the intended learning outcomes of the project?
- What is the impact of the project on student confidence?
- What is the relationship between confidence building and solving more complex sets of problems?
- What is the impact of projects on students’ confidence in technical communication?
- Are there differences in student performance and satisfaction of individuals by gender and major?
- What are the variations in experience within teams?
- What are the student perceptions of their learning process through this project?
Knowledge sharing: I have discussed the project element of this course, including findings and achievements, with colleagues in our department.
We have already presented the design of the project, and initial findings in ITiCSE conference. It was source of great discussions, and we aim to follow up on the opportunities that came up for collaboration.
We are currently preparing the final report of the work to be submitted to a SIGCSE conference
I am planning to discuss the course design with colleagues from the undergraduate committee in our department.
Keywords: Project-based learning; PBL; Scaffolding; Group-project; Multi-phase project; Web-systems Architecture; Project Specification; Scaffolded PBL