scholarly journals Linked-Class Problem-Based Learning In Engineering: Method And Evaluation

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily M. Hunt ◽  
Pamela Lockwood-Cooke ◽  
Judy Kelley

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is a problem-centered teaching method with exciting potential in engineering education for motivating and enhancing student learning. Implementation of PBL in engineering education has the potential to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Two common problems are encountered when attempting to integrate PBL into the undergraduate engineering classroom:  1) the large time requirement to complete a significant, useful problem and 2) the ability to determine its impact on students. Engineering, mathematics, and science professors at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) have overcome the large time commitment associated with implementation of PBL in a single course by integrating small components of the larger project into each of their classes and then linking these components with a culminating experience for all the classes. Most of the engineering students were concurrently enrolled in the engineering, mathematics, and science classes and were therefore participating in all activities related to the project. This linked-class PBL experience addressed course concepts, reinforced connections among the courses, and provided real-world applications for the students. Students viewed the experience as beneficial, increasing their understanding of content and applications in each discipline. This paper provides details about implementation and evaluation of one PBL project and how difficulties in evaluation of the linked-class PBL experiences are being addressed.

Author(s):  
Emily M. Hunt ◽  
Pamela Lockwood-Cooke ◽  
Paul Fisher

Problem-based Learning (PBL) is a motivating, problem-centered teaching method with exciting potential in engineering education. PBL can be used in engineering education to bridge the gap between theory and practice in a gradual way. The most common problem encountered when attempting to integrate PBL into the undergraduate engineering classroom is the time requirement to complete a significant, useful problem. Because PBL has such potential in engineering, mathematics, and science education, professors from engineering, mathematics, and physics have joined together to solve small pieces of a large engineering problem concurrently in an effort to reduce the time required to solve a complex problem in any one class. This is a pilot project for a National Science Foundation (NSF) supported Science Talent Expansion Program (STEP) grant entitled Increasing Numbers, Connections, and Retention in Science and Engineering (INCRSE) (NSF 0622442). The students involved are undergraduate mechanical engineering students that are co-enrolled in Engineering Statics, Calculus II, and Engineering Physics I. These classes are linked using PBL to increase both student engagement and success. The problem addresses concepts taught in class, reinforces connections among the courses, and provides real-world applications. Student, faculty, and industry assessment of the problem reveals a mutually beneficial experience that provides a link for students between in-class concepts and real-world application. This method of problem-based learning provides a practical application that can be used in engineering curricula.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Akram Ahmad Abu-aisheh ◽  
Lynroy Grant ◽  
Narendar Sumukadas ◽  
Alan Hadad

Engineering education today is undergoing an unprecedented array of challenges, including maintaining student engagement during the lecture and throughout the semester. Fostering student engagement in the class room has become a challenging task for engineering educators. In this paper, the authors report on the application of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) to maintain student engagement throughout each lecture, and the use of Learner Agent Object (LAO) portfolios to maintain student engagement in the course throughout the semester.


Author(s):  
Narges Balouchestani Ali ◽  
Sijia Zhu ◽  
Kamran Behdinan

In today’s world, engineering design is being conducted in a global environment. Recent research in engineering education shows that one of the competencies for engineering students is the ability to collaborate and communicate internationally. There is no better place in curricula than the 4th year design capstone to incorporate international experiences for students. University of Toronto has recently started international collaboration in capstone by partnering with universities in China, USA and Singapore. This is problem-based learning that allows students to experience collaboration with international partners. This paper explores the experiences of students in the international capstone design courses. We investigate the challenges, the risks, and the rewards associated with this international and cross cultural collaboration.


2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Perrenet ◽  
P. A. J. Bouhuijs ◽  
J. G. M. M. Smits

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
LUO Yong

Embedded system is an interdisciplinary, profound foundation and practice-oriented course; at present, in the traditional teaching mode, embedded systems in colleges and universities generally have problems such as disconnected theory and practice, outdated assessment methods, and low enthusiasm of students. Arming to cultivate compound embedded development talents that meet the needs of enterprises, based on CDIO engineering education mode, this paper analyzes the characteristics of the “Embedded System” course, and takes engineering project development practice as the dominant idea to discuss the course system, teaching material construction and teaching method reform of “Embedded System.” By designing a complete project teaching system, closely combines the theoretical teaching and practice of the course. Multiple rounds of teaching practices show that through the project-driven teaching method, students’ engineering practice ability can be significantly improved, so that students can deeply master the basic principles of embedded systems, and possess the engineering development ability of embedded products at the same time, thus meeting the needs of enterprises for innovative and interdisciplinary talents.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-114
Author(s):  
Lal Mohan Baral ◽  
Ramzan Muhammad ◽  
Claudiu Vasile Kifor ◽  
Ioan Bondrea

AbstractProblem-based learning as a teaching tool is now used globally in many areas of higher education. It provides an opportunity for students to explore technical problems from a system-level perspective and to be self-directed life-long learner which is mandatory for equipping engineering students with the skill and knowledge. This paper presents a case study illustrating the effectiveness of implemented Problem-based learning (PBL) during five semesters in the undergraduate programs of Textile Engineering in Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST). An assessment has been done on the basis of feedback from the students as well as their employers by conducting an empirical survey for the evaluation of PBL impact to enhance the student's competencies. The Evaluations indicate that students have achieved remarkable competencies through PBL practices which helped them to be competent in their professional life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-261
Author(s):  
Filomena Soares ◽  
Ana Paula Lopes ◽  
Anna Cellmer ◽  
Anne Uukkivi ◽  
Carolina Rebollar ◽  
...  

AbstractEmbracing tertiary education system represents the beginning of a transition and adjustment period for several students. Most of these have just finished high school where the environment is strictly defined, controlled, stable and attendance is mandatory. Higher Education changes the role of students’ responsibility and this can cause stress and difficulty in the transition to self-directed learning and autonomy promotion. The purpose of this paper is to present an Erasmus+ project that brought together six Higher Education Institutions from different European countries and to describe its current stage. This project aims to develop a shared understanding of engineering mathematics at an early stage of tertiary education and to raise awareness of cultural, professional and educational issues. The initial focus of the work is on the partners’ mutual interest in active learning, particularly the application of Information and Communication Technology in the field of engineering education. When finalised, the project hopes to provide students with a new authentic engineering mathematics subject which meets their needs. This is also the core reason why the on-line course will be composed using innovative pedagogics and ICT tools, as appropriate pedagogics supports students’ procedural, conceptual and application understanding in mathematics and enhances digital competencies, literacy and skills.


Author(s):  
Rod D. Roscoe ◽  
Samuel T. Arnold ◽  
Ashley T. Clark

Instruction and coursework that link engineering and psychology may enable future engineers to better understand the people they are engineering for (e.g., users and clients) and themselves as engineers (e.g., teammates). In addition, human-centered engineering education may empower engineering students to better solve problems at the intersection of technology and people. In this study, we surveyed students’ conceptions and attitudes toward human systems engineering. We aggregate responses across three survey iterations to discuss students’ knowledge and beliefs, and to consider instructional opportunities for introductory courses.


Author(s):  
Ying Liu

For some trade majors who only focus on theoretical studies, they no longer have an advantage in the market. If they do not pay attention to practical training, it will be difficult to gain a foothold in business. In education, people are paying more and more attention to e-commerce. Many schools take “cross-border e-commerce (CBEC)” as a course. This article uses CBEC to implement multi-dimensional teaching, so as to enhance the core competence of trade majors. This research is mainly based on the analysis of the existing teaching program model, and proposes a multi-level, all-round and multi-dimensional teaching method. This article analyzes the current teaching mode of trade major and various related problems in this mode, and proposes a teaching method based on theory and practice in response to the requirements of trade major. In teaching, many teachers will use traditional teaching methods to analyze trade and help students learn about CBEC. If students cannot learn the operating mode of CBEC as soon as possible, it will cause many students to walk out of the school very much. It is difficult to adapt to the requirements of work, and it is also difficult to accept the new CBEC model. This not only affects the employment rate and employment quality of students, but also is not conducive to the transformation and development of foreign trade enterprises. Therefore, we need to teach students based on the market’s demand for CBEC compound talents, let them have close contact with enterprise development, and use school-enterprise cooperation to realize CBEC practical and multi-dimensional teaching in schools, so as to generate training to meet the needs of the cross-e-commerce market Technical personnel.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Wen Tsai

Computing education in Taiwan is ineffective. Most teaching efforts in private vocational schools have been devoted to helping students pass tests through a “spoon-feeding” teaching method. Under such constraints, students may lose their long-term competence in practical terms. In this study, the author conducted a series of quasi-experiments to examine the long-term effects of web-mediated problem-based learning (PBL), self-regulated learning (SRL), and their combinations on students’ computing skills over three years. The author re-examined students’ long-term computing skills three years after the start of the related course. Results reveal that effects of web-mediated PBL, SRL, and their combinations on students’ long-term computing skills are significant. The implications for scholars and teachers engaged in online learning were also discussed.


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