Published November 10, 2022 | Version 1.0
Presentation Open

Approach for project-based teaching and learning in the context of engineering sciences

  • 1. ROR icon Graz University of Technology

Description

The preparation for the demands of professional life has been anchored in the curricula of engineering studies for decades. Some of the teaching formats and content have already been adapted, but are always lagging behind the actual requirements of the industry. Since industry orders are often processed in the form of projects, engineering studies must pay particular attention to introducing and preparing for project-based work processes. This has already been recognized by the universities but is still being implemented hesitantly and to a limited extent in teaching. In engineering, project work in class is nothing new. However, the connection to practice and the methods of project management is not always sufficiently established. The result is often just a special form of group work that is given the title "Project Lessons". The approach presented here was derived from a project-based teaching method developed and tested by the University of Aalen (Germany), the "prepared project method (PPM)". The aim of this approach is to enable teachers who have little or no experience with project-based teaching to get started quickly. This approach does not try to reinvent the wheel, but rather consciously uses well-known and proven teaching methods and applies them in the context of engineering sciences. The main feature of the approach is to introduce students to the basic concepts of project management and project-based work and to apply and train them in a targeted manner on different learning content. The learning content can be chosen freely, as long as it is suitable for project-based work and a connection to professional practice can be established. This results in a wide range of applications that are independent of the department, especially in the field of engineering. An essential task of teaching at universities is to impart the specialist skills required in professional life, but also to promote social skills. Project-based work is particularly suitable for promoting social skills since a high degree of interaction between all those involved in their different roles is required here. The distribution of roles and the exchange of roles make it possible to view learning content from different perspectives and thus promote networking and the deepening of existing specialist skills. Project work requires independent action. The teacher assumes the role of project manager, takes on the preparation and organization of the learning scenario, initiates individual action, provides support when problems arise and creates the necessary communication channels. The students are members of project teams, they organize and structure their tasks themselves, and interact with other project teams and the teacher. This creates an active, dynamic learning experience. First, the methodology of the approach, the goals, the organization, the process, advantages and disadvantages as well as possible, risks are described. Then the special features of project-based teaching and learning with regard to didactic preparation are examined in more detail. Furthermore, the application of the teaching method in various course formats and the placement in the curriculum are discussed. Finally, the possibilities of project-based teaching and learning in the context of scholarship of teaching and learning are shown.

Files

presentation_j_harden_final.pdf

Files (857.0 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:3ca8a02a0bfeda79e7fabd558858f54d
857.0 kB Preview Download

Additional details

Additional titles

Translated title (German)
Ansatz für projekt-basierte Lehre im Kontext der Ingenieurwissenschaften

Dates

Accepted
2022-10-31
Abstract accepted by conference committee
Issued
2022-11-10
Presentation at Teaching and Education UNITE! conference (Online)
Submitted
2022-10-25
Abstract submitted to conference committee
Available
2023-11-10
Published on ResearchGate