Impact of Experiential Learning when Teaching Agile Project Management

The widespread adoption of Agile methodologies has prompted a reevaluation of project management education, particularly the integration of experiential learning approaches. This study examines the effectiveness of experiential learning in teaching Agile project management by engaging graduate students in a structured Agile group project. The research question is: What impact does experiential learning have on the ability to learn Agile project management? Qualitative data were collected through project artifacts, including Daily Standup meetings, Sprint Reviews, and Sprint Retrospectives, across two academic semesters. Thematic analysis revealed significant impacts on soft skills such as Collaboration, Communication, Goal Setting, Growth in Agile Knowledge, and Adaptation. These findings contribute to the limited body of research on innovative project management education and offer guidance for educators seeking to prepare students for Agile environments through hands-on learning.