Enhancing engineering students' project management skills in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic: an online project-based learning experience

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goncalo Cruz ◽  
Caroline Dominguez ◽  
Adelaide Cerveira
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Management Skills

Enhancing Engineering Learning Experience at UTB by Freshmen iHOP

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nazmul Islam
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Real World ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Senior Design ◽  
Team Selection ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Lower Division

Most of the engineering courses focus more on theory and very little on hands-on, project-based learning in the classroom. Integration of real-world engineering problems and applications in lower division engineering courses will produce engineering students, who will be technically sound and be able to execute and manage real-world projects, when they will do senior design projects in their final year of engineering study. To overcome the engineering design challenges we have developed iHOP (Ingenieŕia Hands on Project) and integrate it with our lower division engineering courses. iHOP has been developed to emphasis the design component at the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) Engineering Physics curriculum and the project is now an integral part of Introduction to Engineering class. The iHOP project is one that is challenging, fun, requires teamwork, associated with the engineering material being studied, low cost, and doable in a limited amount of time. The experience from iHOP project motivates our freshman students to choose a better senior design project in senior year of their college career. The objectives of the iHOP projects are — to have students develop teamwork skills, and to teach students basic engineering design concepts in a complementary format to the traditional lecture. Various techniques related to team selection, encouraging teamwork, incorporation of engineering topics, keeping costs down, project results presentations, and gathering feedback from students will also be presented in this paper. Integrating iHOP Project with Introduction to Engineering class helped us to improve our retention effort in the engineering department.

scholarly journals Boosting critical thinking in a Project Management course: An active learning experience

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmina Berbegal-Mirabent ◽  
Dolors Gil-Domènech ◽  
Clara Gieure
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Active Learning ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Peer Assessment ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Learning Activity ◽  
Assessment Tasks

The present study reports the experience of a project-based learning activity in which students are asked to plan and assess the viability of an event. This activity is part of a Project Management course taught at Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, in a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration and Production Systems. With this activity students are required to apply the acquired technical skills while use different quantitative methods and tools to interpret data for decision-making. By introducing self- and peer- assessment tasks, this activity also boosts critical thinking. The results show that active learning materialized in the form of project-based learning activities make courses more enjoyable for both instructors and students, and most importantly, contribute to develop students’ skills such as teamwork and critical thinking. The findings also reveal that although pre-class readings and lectures are useful, students do not fully understand and realize about what they learn until they are actively involved in activity where they should apply the new knowledge acquired.

Providing project management knowledge and skills through scaffolding and project-based learning strategy

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaligram Pokharel
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Learning Model ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Management Knowledge ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Project management skills are important for today’s engineers, as they get involved in various project-based employment roles. The purpose of this paper is to discuss a learning model to provide project management knowledge through scaffolding and project-based learning (PjBL) methods in the project engineering course. Design/methodology/approach This paper discusses a generic learning model that includes how scaffolding and project-based methods are integrated to provide project management skills to the students. The paper uses the survey method to collect and analyze data on the applicability of the model. Findings Statistical analysis of the collected data shows that the respondents positively perceive the value of the learning model to gain project management knowledge and skills. The response shows that the model is useful not only to the current students but also the graduates who use project management skills in their employment. Practical implications The learning model can be used by the instructors to provide project management skills to undergraduate and graduate students from all education disciplines. Originality/value This paper focuses on the development of a unique learning model, and artifacts used by the students and the instructors for interactive learning and gaining skills on project management.

scholarly journals Multidisciplinary Project Based Learning Within a Collaborative Framework: A Case Study on Urban Drone Conception

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Jacques ◽  
Sébastien Bissey ◽  
Arnaud Martin
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Systems Design ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Human Material ◽  
Scientific Technical

Multidisciplinary project-based learning (PBL) allows multifaceted real-world problems to be resolved with solutions addressing scientific, technical, business, and social aspects. However, such a method can be very challenging in terms of project management (including planning, coordinating, and management of human, material and financial resources) and time-consuming, especially when involving several partners (academic and industrial partners). This paper provides firsthand experience of multidisciplinary PBL implemented in France in engineering education through a case study on urban drone conception. This research project has been proceeded within a collaborative framework in which 3 specialties (electrical energy systems, industrial computing, and mechanics and systems design) of a graduate school of engineering and a start-up company are jointly involved for the first time. This article discusses knowledge and skills that engineering students are expected to acquire at the end of the research project, and the methods of assessment. The designing, manufacturing, and experimental validation of the urban drone are described. The various steps in the project management, and the interactions with the students and partners (teachers and industrial partner) are particularly highlighted. Qualitative and quantitative data have been collected through questionnaires, student logbooks and reports. The results demonstrate that this experience is overwhelmingly positive since it empowers and enhances student learning.

scholarly journals Motivation of Engineering Students Participating in Multinational Design Projects – Comparison Based on Gender and Class Status

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
Jorge Rodriguez ◽  
Ivan E. Esparragoza
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Design ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Educational Activity ◽  
Time Zone ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Design Projects ◽  
Global Skills

There have been different active-learning initiatives introduced in academia to provide engineering students with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to be competitive in the global market. These initiatives have been in response to the need in the corporate world for engineers with exposure to global collaborative environments. Consequently, multinational collaborative design projects have been used by the authors as means of introducing professional global skills to engineering students while exposing them to a project-based learning experience. This educational activity is expected to motivate students so that they can start developing the professional skills that will help them to overcome difficulties and to carry out the project successfully. However, this activity faces many challenges including, among others, cultural and academic background differences, language and time zone barriers, and issues with communication tools. Therefore, this work compares the motivation of students before and after their participation in a multinational design project, using gender and class standing as differentiating parameters. To accomplish this objective, the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) was adapted to the implemented multinational collaborative experience and administered to the participating students. For this study, three motivation constructs are taken into consideration: (a) interest/enjoyment, (b) perception of choice, and (c) perceived competence. Results are discussed based on the research questions posed for this comparative work, and result reflections are presented.

scholarly journals Physical therapy using robotics: A project-based learning experience for undergraduate students

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 32-42
Author(s):  
Edgar Lopez-Caudana ◽  
Christian Fernando López-Orozco ◽  
César Mendoza Bárbara ◽  
Germán Eduardo Baltazar Reyes ◽  
Pedro Ponce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Physical Therapy ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Innovative Therapy ◽  
Wide Range

The dynamic society we live in requires constant adaptation and innovation on every aspect of our daily lives, allowing us to improve the necessities of different people by doing it. For this study, we used a new approach with project-based learning to go beyond the typical environment in higher education and bring solutions to real-life scenarios. The project was developed with undergraduate engineering students in collaboration with a rehabilitation institute in Mexico City to design a physical therapy routine using the NAO robot. It allowed interaction between young patients in real time and fostered empathy while developing a final usable product. The study measured the usability of the robotic platform during the rehabilitation sessions and the reproducibility of the project through Cronbach's alpha evaluation. The usability results show a higher interest in the project from both the patients and the medical staff involved while constructing the material needed to develop a product that matches the standards given by the rehabilitation institute. Implications for practice or policy: Therapists could change traditional approaches to caregiving while adopting new technological methodologies using robots. Higher education students could supplement their school curricula with real-case scenarios such as creating innovative therapy sessions for people with physical disabilities. Schools might need to collaborate with a wide range of institutions to provide technological solutions to real problems.

scholarly journals Project-Based Learning Strategy for Teaching Molecular Biology: A Study of Students’ Perceptions

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 43-53
Author(s):  
Ayman Z. Elsamanoudy ◽  
Fayza Al Fayez ◽  
Aliaa Alamoudi ◽  
Zuhier Awan ◽  
Abdulhadi I. Bima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
King Abdulaziz University ◽  
Survey Instruments ◽  
Student Centred Learning

This current study aims to analyse students’ perceptions regarding implementing project-based learning (PjBL) in teaching a molecular biology course to second-year pharmacy students at King Abdulaziz University as a sort of active student-centred learning method. Sixty-five male and 90 female students were enrolled in this study. This research used survey instruments to assess learners’ perceptions. The survey was divided into four sections that consisted of closedended questions to evaluate students’ overall perceptions of PjBL, communication skills, project management and teamwork activity during their project management process. A 5-point Likert scale was used. Regarding overall learning and students’ satisfaction with the PjBL experience, the percentage was 72.73%, with a score of 21.82 over 30. The percentage of students’ perceptions towards the improvement of their communication skills was 60.98%, with a score of 15.25 over 25. The percentage of students’ perceptions of project management skills was 64.97%, with a score of 12.99 over 20. Finally, regarding teamwork, the survey revealed a percentage of 71.81%, with a score of 43.08 over 60. There was a positive correlation between students’ perceptions of the questionnaire’s four parts and their grade point average (GPA) in the molecular biology course. It can be concluded that PjBL is an effective tool in the active-learning process. PjBL can improve students’ communication and management skills. Also, it encourages teamwork activities between students.

scholarly journals Engineering Students Learning Experience through a Unique Global Project-Based Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (15) ◽  
pp. 236
Author(s):  
Nurzal Effiyana Ghazali ◽  
Khairiyah Mohd. Yusof ◽  
Fatin Aliah Phang ◽  
Rashidah Arsat ◽  
Nur Azliza Ahmad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Engineering Industry ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Educational Backgrounds ◽  
Institute Of Technology ◽  
Malaysian Students ◽  
Current Engineering ◽  
Global Project

Current students must prepare themselves with the necessary skills for employment in the engineering industry. In addition, students should prepare themselves to work globally. Along with the needs, Shibaura Institute of Technology introduces a program named global Project-Based Learning (gPBL). Malaysian students from different educational backgrounds joined this pro-gram to experience new skills. The program was participated by 34 students from Malaysia and Japan. Current engineering education is focusing on a course that can foster students’ creativity and critical thinking. Therefore, this study explores students’ experiences in gPBL and what student skills developed throughout the program. Students reported their experiences through the self-reflective journal. Then, thematic analysis was used to analyze the students’ self-reflective journals. The results show gPBL promotes thinking and problem-solving skills, encourages students to work with peers in other fields, and encourages students to adapt to a new culture.

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