Action research with projects to facilitate students to study research and prepare research proposals during the Covid-19 pandemic

Knowledge and skills in the field of research are key requirements for the successful completion of studies for students, including prospective teachers. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus has made it difficult for students to conduct research in the usual ways. This study aims to apply project-based learning through action research to teach students educational research methods and to help them prepare research plans that are adaptive to classroom situations. This is achieved through the provision of learning resources to teach research theory, followed by the implementation of action research to write research proposals and evaluations of learning outcomes. Learning resources were systematically arranged to support online learning to teach research methods, and effective action research led students to learn actively and develop educational research plans. Competence in the field of research was achieved. Student learning outcomes sequentially for assignment scores (M = 88.38 +/- 3.00), final project scores (M = 88.20 +/- 3.55), and posttest (M = 92.06 +/- 2.17) were all high. Project-based learning is shown to be effective in guiding students to learn actively by utilizing available learning resources. It motivates students to learn independently and can be applied to achieve competency targets in both normal and abnormal learning situations, such as those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.