The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of project learning applied
instructional design based on constructivism, to improve social work competences for
freshmen who took the 'Introduction to Social Welfare' course, and to suggest a new
instructional design model. To achieve this purpose, Intervention Research Methodology was
utilized. The study had been conducted from July 2010 to December 2013 according to the
procedure including analysis, data collection, designing, implementation, evaluation,
modification and dissemination. Research participants were only freshmen students who had
taken 'Introduction to Social Welfare' course opened from September 2010 to February 2013.
In order to evaluate the instructional design, three different research methodologies were
used; literature review, focus-group interview and survey. As the result, implementing the
developed instructional design was effective on improving students' competences in the
areas of understanding generalist practice and understanding social welfare, that are key
competences for becoming social workers and the goals of the course. The effectiveness on
increasing career decision competence, problem solving competence, peer relationship and
teamwork were found, resulting from project learning application, as occupational key
competences. Student led presentations, interaction, team project, activities, instant rewards,
participative evaluation, utilization of various materials, and connecting fields were found
out as effective methods for the course. Based on the evaluation, modified instructional
design, dissemination tasks for strengthening the participative evaluation were suggested.