USING PROJECT-BASED LEARNING TO DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS

Author(s):  
Jaime Barbosa ◽  
Julian Arenas Berrio
Author(s):  
Daria Kotys-Schwartz ◽  
Daniel Knight ◽  
Gary Pawlas

Innovative curriculum reforms have been instituted at several universities and colleges with the intention of developing the technical competence and professional skills of engineering students. First Year Engineering Project (FYEP), or Freshman Design courses have been integrated into undergraduate engineering curricula across the country. Many of these courses provide students with hands-on engineering opportunities early in the curriculum. Senior Capstone Design (SCD) courses are ubiquitous in engineering programs, incorporating technical knowledge and real-world problem solving. Previous research has shown that project-driven classes like FYEP and SCD increase the professional and technical design skills of students. While research into first year and senior design skills development has been more robust, scant research investigating the transformation of skills between freshman design experiences and senior design experiences has been performed. This research project investigates the longitudinal technical and professional skill development of mechanical engineering students at the University of Colorado at Boulder. An overview of First-Year Engineering Projects and the mechanical engineering Senior Capstone Design project course is detailed. Technical and professional skill objectives are discussed within the paper. Pre and post skill surveys were utilized in both First-Year Engineering Projects and the Senior Capstone Design classes. Initial results indicate that student skills deteriorate between the end of the first-year and beginning of the senior year.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-188
Author(s):  
Yuliana Firmanda ◽  
Widiarini Widiarini ◽  
Siti Rofi’ah ◽  
Istina Atul Makrifah

This paper aims to develop ESP Supplementary book for mechanical engineering students in high level education. This is a Borg & Gall Research and Development (R&D) by using questionnaire and unstructured interview instrument. The research subject is 20 fourth semester students of mechanical engineering major in UNU Blitar. The limitation of this study is developing ESP supplementary book based PBL with engineering materials as the topic of the book. The process development of Engineering Materials Supplementary Book Based on ESP and PBL consists of some steps those are (1) Need analysis; (2) Product arrangement; (3) Product testing; and (4) Product revision if it is necessary. This research finds that the supplementary book is valid in three aspects of media (77.5%), content (83.3%) and language (83.3%) and feasible to use as supplement material for the mechanical engineering students. Based on the satisfaction questionnaire this product is appropriate for the mechanical engineering students to learn about English for Specific Purposes in form of Project Based Learning model implementation in percentage about 80% agree and 15% very agree.


2022 ◽  
pp. 50-68
Author(s):  
Ville Isoherranen ◽  
Mira Kekkonen

This chapter introduces project-based learning approach which is used in the Oulu University of Applied Sciences (OUAS), School of Engineering and Natural Resources, Mechanical Engineering Department to get local companies to offer project works to mechanical engineering students. The concept is based on organizing a local event or online event for the companies to come to OUAS campus to present their challenges needing engineering students to solve. The companies are then competing, selling, or pitching their problem for engineering students as the engineering students will then individually select the most interesting cases to be solved, and which has linkage to potential summer job and thesis work opportunities if projects are successful. The concept has proven to be successful, and it has been established as traditional event with many companies returning to the pitching event annually to get their industry problems solved by group of motivated engineering students.


2014 ◽  
Vol 657 ◽  
pp. 1078-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Ema Panaite ◽  
Oana Dodun ◽  
António Gonçalves-Coelho

The paper presents a questionnaire elaborated for evaluating an academic educational program of the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iaşi, Romania. The work was inspired by the attempt to introduce of Project Based Learning pedagogy method in the curricula of Romanian students of mechanical engineering.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2102 (1) ◽  
pp. 012001
Author(s):  
K R Ccama-Mamani ◽  
D Chipoco Haro ◽  
M R Gutierrez ◽  
L Palomino-Marcelo ◽  
J C F Rodriguez-Reyes

Abstract Even though undergraduate engineering education often considers laboratory experiments as its practical component, these activities may not contribute to the development of soft (professional) skills. At “Universidad de Ingenieria y Tecnologia”, Perú, a series of courses called interdisciplinary projects has been created to promote the development of professional skills through project-based learning; herein, we report the experience of an interdisciplinary group of students focused on designing an indoor air filtration system to improve air quality and to reduce the spread of coronavirus diseases. Eight undergraduate engineering students were organized into three groups and worked collaboratively to learn about antiviral nanocomposites, user-centered design, and electromechanical systems design; they showed their progress and received feedback from each other through weekly meetings. In addition, they leaned on applications to organize the group work and share the bibliography consulted; finally, we collected feedback from these students on the proposed learning method. The positive impact of our problem-based learning approach on undergraduate engineering students is discussed.


Author(s):  
Moritz Weber ◽  
Katrin Pitz ◽  
Reiner Anderl

Software development is a key skill for all engineers and is therefore part of the first semester curriculum for mechanical engineering at Technische Universität Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt). A new method in engineering studies at TU Darmstadt based on project-based learning is being introduced to give students the opportunity to gain experience in software development using MATLAB and controlling real world objects. In this project, a 6-axis articulated robot arm similar to the ones used in industrial applications is being used. In addition to the motors used to drive the robot arm it is equipped with a color sensor. The students are thus encouraged to familiarize themselves with processing sensor data and incorporating it into their problem-solving approaches. The students are given a newly developed virtual model of the robot also implemented in MATLAB, which enables them to develop and test their solutions even when there is no access to the physical robot. To communicate with the robot the same methods for both the real and the virtual robot is provided to control the angles of the joints of the robot. As the students are only given Cartesian coordinates they have to convert these for the robot to use. The task given to the students comprises the development of an algorithm to solve a specific problem using the robot, programming a graphical user interface and a documentation of the project’s results. Students solve the given programming task in self-organized groups of four and undergo a team-based software project with focus on engineering from the beginning to the end. This allows them to reflect on personal competencies and to find their respective roles in a team at a very early stage of their studies. The project applies various aspects taught in the corresponding lecture and thereby emphasizes the practical use of the subject matter. In the concluding presentation, the students are encouraged to reflect their work, summarize the results and show the special features of their implementation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
S. Hadi ◽  
L. Agustriyana ◽  
Subagiyo Subagiyo

The problem faced by students is the difficulty of understanding on metal casting topic in the lesson of Materials Technology which is conducted by lectures only. The research objective is to find out the improvement of score on metal casting topic for 1G students from Mechanical Engineering Department, State Polytechnic of Malang (Polinema) in odd Semester, Academic Year 2016/2017. Research method were facilitation of applied metal casting through pretest of metal casting, added a description of the design and modification of metal mould for Aluminium, visit to a home industry of Aluminium casting, students practice of Aluminium casting in a home industry, student groups presentation and discussion in the subtopics of (1) design and mould manufacture, (2) Aluminium casting practice, and (3) tensile testing with cast Aluminium specimen, as well as posttest on metal casting. The research result is an increasing in average score from 46.56 to 53.6 (22%) that means by adding the practice to the theory involved is increase a significant impact on understanding of Aluminium casting for students.


Author(s):  
Dewanti Ratna Pertiwi ◽  
Maria Asumpta Deny Kusumaningrum

Covid-19 has changed a lot of life sectors, including education. The government’s policy to carry out emergency remote teaching (ERT) immediately switches the teachers’ and lecturers’ plans on successful classroom activities. One of the classroom’s activities is project-based learning (PBL). With several limitations, challenges should be taken on so that designing simple but meaningful projects can facilitate project-based learning. Thus, some adaptations should be made since some students are economically impacted. Online learning modes, either synchronous or asynchronous were held to communicate the project. A descriptive qualitative research method was employed by involving two classes of mechanical engineering students. Data were collected from learning platforms observations, interviews with students’ representatives, and questionnaires administered to all students. The project was conducted in four stages; beginning the infographic project, developing the project, closing the project, and evaluating the project. The research indicated that the students completed and engaged in the project successfully through some problems that came up, mainly when the students had to have group work and communicate using internet media since most students were back home with various internet connection access. However, some assessable applications were employed so that the project was well accomplished. In conclusion, conducting a PBL in emergency remote teaching was successfully conducted with some simple available and accessable applications since the students’ conditions varied significantly.


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