A PBL workshop, 10 years on: a meaningful time with young people from Gumi. Two days with Gumi University students at The K Hotel Gyeongju, and the rewards of teaching rediscovered along the way. It had been a long time since I taught two days in a row.
This workshop was held with Gumi University students at The K Hotel Gyeongju, using a project-based learning (PBL) format on the theme of “solving problems in the Gumi region.”
Lectures and group activities ran until 9 p.m., followed by presentations the next morning: a short but intensely packed schedule.
The excitement and responsibility of teaching, felt again after 10 years. A two-day workshop, my first in 10 years.
After such a long gap, I felt a bit nervous, but just as excited.
Facing young people in the field once again reminded me of who I used to be.
They looked exhausted, but even that felt like something to be grateful for.
College students today are truly different
PBL is an active learning method in which learners define problems and solve them on their own.
The students seemed a little awkward at first, but they took part more and more actively as time went on. Watching them think things through seriously in team discussions was truly impressive.
It was especially meaningful that they weren’t just completing an assignment but were genuinely thinking about their own region.
The energy of talking with young people. Honestly, it felt unfamiliar at first to run a workshop with students old enough to be my children.
And yet their energy and passion gave me a great boost as well.
Listening to the students’ stories, I thought a lot about my own sons and nephews and felt a natural connection with them.
Maybe that’s why there was more laughter during class, and I found myself getting more and more absorbed.
The essence of education still holds. Technology has advanced and teaching methods have changed, but the core of education, “thinking together and working toward answers,” is as valid as ever.
In particular, as we worked on a project built around local problems and tied to real situations,
the students’ engagement and the depth of their results both exceeded my expectations.
The night before the presentations, and a quiet sense of pride. It was a long day that ran until 9 p.m., but the students were still smiling.
I was tired too, but seeing their expressions gave me strength again.
The night before the morning presentations, tension and anticipation in equal measure.
It has been a long time since I felt this kind of satisfaction, and it feels great.
On the way home, I renew my resolve
This workshop made me feel the weight of the word “education” all over again.
It’s a feeling that is easy to lose in the daily routine, but seeing sincere participation and growth like this renews me.
This experience has given me the push to take another step forward.
Workshop schedule at a glance Schedule Content Day 1 Team activities and local issue analysis until 9 p.m. Day 2 Morning presentations and discussion, team feedback sharing
