ERIC Number: EJ961370
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0304-3797
EISSN: N/A
An Evaluation of a Project-Based Learning Initiative in Engineering Education
Palmer, Stuart; Hall, Wayne
European Journal of Engineering Education, v36 n4 p357-365 2011
Project-based learning (PBL) is a well-known methodology for engineering design education due to a number of benefits it is claimed to offer. This paper presents the initial offering of a first-year engineering PBL unit at Griffith University in Australia. An evaluation of student perceptions of the unit revealed that students generally enjoyed the experience, with the oral presentation aspect receiving the lowest satisfaction rating. There was no significant difference in the ratings between any demographic grouping, suggesting that all students were able to participate in, and experience, the unit in essentially the same way. The best aspects of the unit and those aspects needing improvement were similar to the findings of other investigations documented in the literature. It is proposed that future offerings of the unit will reduce the number of design projects from three to two per semester and will attempt more sophisticated individualisation of marks for group work activities. (Contains 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Engineering Education, Student Projects, Investigations, Computer Assisted Instruction, Active Learning, Engineering, Foreign Countries, Universities, Group Activities, Student Evaluation, Student Attitudes, Grades (Scholastic), Feedback (Response), Undergraduate Students, Teamwork
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A