Article Gold Open Access 2025

Teachers’ perception of the implementation of project-based learning in early childhood education in Indonesia: Project-Based Learning: a perspective from Indonesian early childhood educators

Cogent Education
Journal · Vol. 12 · Issue 1 · Art. 2458663
Abstract

Project-based learning (PjBL) is a valuable approach that promotes a love of learning, cultivates critical and creative thinking skills in children, and offers proven benefits for educators, ultimately improving early childhood education outcomes. This study aims to address the following research questions: (1) What are the perceptions of early childhood educators in Indonesia regarding the implementation of PjBL? (2) How do these perceptions differ based on educators’ teaching experience and familiarity with PjBL? (3) What role does school contextualization, including infrastructure, facilities, and administration, play in effective PjBL implementation? (4) How does parental involvement influence PjBL implementation as seen by educators? To investigate these questions, this study utilizes a quantitative strategy employing a survey method. The research findings indicate that Indonesian early childhood educators possess favorable perspectives on the implementation of Project-Based Learning (PjBL) and report beneficial teaching experiences following four years of practice. Furthermore, the study underscores the critical importance of the school context—encompassing infrastructure, facilities, and administrative support—in facilitating effective PjBL implementation. Additionally, the findings highlight the significant influence of parental involvement, wherein parents contribute to the success of children’s PjBL experiences by fostering a supportive home learning environment, enhancing motivation and interest, and supplying essential resources. These findings suggest that parents play a crucial role in facilitating their children’s success with PjBL. While most teachers have a positive view of PjBL, recognizing its benefits in skill enhancement, they also encounter challenges such as limited training, resources, and classroom management, which warrant further investigation. Educators with more than four years of experience with PjBL tend to view certain aspects more positively, emphasizing the importance of adequate practical preparation. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Project-Based Learning Indonesia education childhood Teacher Perceptions classroom practice development studies early childhood education environment & the developing world internet & Multimedia - Computing & IT research methods in development studies teachers & teacher education

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Universitas Terbuka, Jakarta, Indonesia
Funding & Acknowledgements
Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University
This research project was supported by a grant from the Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia. The authors thank the Deanship of Scientific Research and RSSU at the Indonesia Open University (Universitas Terbuka Indonesia) for their technical support.
Russian State Social University, RSSU
This research project was supported by a grant from the Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia. The authors thank the Deanship of Scientific Research and RSSU at the Indonesia Open University (Universitas Terbuka Indonesia) for their technical support.
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