Problem Based Learning

and its application to Engineering

Professor Norman Wood

Manchester School of Engineering

April 2003

Background

MSE formed in 1994 from 4 departments

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Aeronautical Engineering

Civil Engineering

Background

Developments since 1997

Establishment of MCCCE with UMIST

Amalgamation of elements of Electrical Engineering with Computer Science

MSE has become primarily Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Background

The financial status of the School is heavily dependent upon student numbers and RAE Grade.

The University of Manchester has made a commitment to be a ‘research led’ institution.

This stimulated a thorough review of our undergraduate provision in addition to other activities focused upon research.

Key Issues

The needs of Industry were being reiterated to us as being:

Group working skills

Communication skills

Problem solving skills

Independent learning

Time management skills

Key Issues

The skill base of the student intake had changed and they exhibited:

A lack of numeracy

A lack of literacy

An inability to solve previously unseen problems

As a result, they were increasingly poorly equipped for a traditional undergraduate teaching programme

Key Issues

The challenge to MSE was to improve our research activity standing while also dealing with the critical issue of improving our teaching quality.

A number of staff had been at Manchester for many years – even changes to traditional teaching methods were poorly received!

Outcome

A decision was taken to consider radical change to our teaching profile to enable a step change in our circumstances and more successfully meet the strategic vision for the MSE.

Amongst a number of options, Problem Based Learning appeared a viable alternative.

What is PBL?

Problem Based Learning is intended to develop a student led learning environment that results in deep learning.

It attempts to break the listen, remember, assess, forget cycle of education.

What is PBL?

PBL is dependent upon the establishment of a strong group working and support culture.

Students are instructed how to run meetings, take minutes, chair a meeting, etc.

Staff act as Facilitators to support the working process and environment, and thereby, the acquisition of knowledge.

What is PBL?

Within Engineering, PBL was seen to offer an opportunity for skill development although it has also been successfully applied to Masters level units in which the acquisition of knowledge was paramount.

It is used extensively by the Medical and Dentistry Schools

What is PBL?

Our implementation uses a 7 step process.1. Understand the problem2. Recall knowledge applicable to the problem3. Formulate questions that may enable the problem to

be solved4. Gather knowledge and generate understanding5. Check to see if problem can be solved and if not,

return to step 36. Demonstrate a solution to the problem7. Reflect upon the experience

What is PBL?

Problem Based Learning is what professional engineers and researchers do in their everyday life!

What is PBL?

PBL is not PROJECT based learning.

Problem based learning requires the acquisition, synthesis and application of new knowledge while PROJECT based learning is usually just the application of knowledge previously acquired.

Outcome

MSE made a commitment to consider the development of a new suite of undergraduate programmes that used PBL as the primary teaching and learning strategy.

Considerations

Resources

Staff loading

Staff training

Impact on student learning experience

Methods of assessment

Professional Accreditation

New UG Programmes

Overall view of UG programme

Acquisition ofKnowledge

Acquisition of skills

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Year by Year Themes

Year 1: Learning to Learn

Year 2: Design as the Integrator

Year 3: Professional Engineer

Year 4: Research and specialisation

These should be consistent with and be driven by the Aims and Objectives.

Programme flexibility

Year 1 is common to all Aero/Mech programmes.Year 2 splits into separate Aerospace and Mechanical streams.Year 3 and 4 are specific to each of the five main degree programmes.BEng students undertake an identifiably different third year.

Year 1 TimetableSemester Week PBL activity Structured Learning Units

1

1 Rocket

Me

cha

tron

ics

De

sign

Pro

fessio

na

l En

gin

ee

r

Ma

the

ma

tics

Th

erm

oflu

ids

Sta

tics an

d D

yna

mics

2 IT

3 Space Frame

4 Electric Motor

5 Design with

Pro-Engineer6

7Programming

8

9Rollercoaster

10

11Electronics

12

13Assessment

14

Year 1 TimetableSemester Week PBL activity Structured Learning Units

2

1Hovercraft

Me

cha

tron

ics

De

sign

Pro

fessio

na

l En

gin

ee

r

Ma

the

ma

tics

Th

erm

oflu

ids

Sta

tics an

d D

yna

mics

2

3Renewable Energy

4

5Powerful Bubbles

6

7IR Link

8

9Formula student

10

11Powerplant

12

13,14Assessment

15,16

Year 1 Assessment Matrix PBL activities

Units ofAssessment

Rollercoaster, Hovercraft etc..

Group skillsPersonal skillsStatics and DynamicsThermofluidsEtc..

Year 1: Structured Learning

Each is a 3 hour session consisting of: A short introductory lecture A series of individual example sheets A further short lecture A Group problem to be handed in at the end of the

session

They are not related to the particular PBL problem but they reinforce material and the PBL process.

Year 2 Assessment Matrix

Design Challenges

Units ofAssessment

Wing Design,Flight Control Systems etc..

Group skillsPersonal skillsAircraft StructuresPerformanceEtc..

Year 2 Timetable

Year 2 consists of four, six-week long design challenges plus examinations.Each design challenge is a self-contained, coordinated activity of PBL and structured learning sessions.In parallel, students undertake more traditional learning in four design, management and business units.

Year 3 and 4

These two years appear similar to our previous programmes.

Staff are permitted to utilise the most appropriate teaching method for the aims and objectives of the units.

Staff are encouraged to build upon the skills developed within the students during the first two years of the programme.

Year 1 Implementation

All PBL activities follow a single template Four 1 hour facilitated sessions (Mon, Thur, Mon,

Thur) An individual formative worksheet and test

(Thursdays) A Group assessment An assessment of personal development Six structured learning sessions An academic as a PBL manager/expert

PBL Template

Week 1 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

am

Introduction to Problem

First Facilitated

session

Expert Session

Maths

Second Facilitated

session

Formative worksheet

Group Working

pm

Group Working

Workshop classes

DesignMecha-tronics

Interim Group

Assess.

PBL Template

Week 2 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

amThird

Facilitated session

Expert Session

Thermofluids

Final Facilitated

session

Individual Test

Group Working

pm

Group Working

Workshop classes

Statics and Dynamics

Prof. Engineer

Group Assess.

Sample ProblemThe ‘No Fear’ roller-coaster in the ‘Moss-Side Fantasy-Land and Cyber-

City’ was recently opened by Brooklyn and Romeo Beckham. It is the largest roller-coaster in Europe. During the first day of operation, an incident occurred where one of the cars was damaged. Fortunately, the car remained on the track and although the occupants in the fully laden car (all members of the University Sumo Wrestling team) were badly shaken, there were no serious injuries.

 The front axle of the car concerned was found to be bent, but had not

broken. No other damage was visible. Police have ruled out the possibility of vandalism. Manufacturing defects have also been eliminated as a possible cause.

 The ride has been shut down pending an investigation into the accident.

The owners are anxious to determine the cause of the accident so that their biggest attraction is up and running as soon as possible.

Questions that should arise after the first facilitated session

What caused the failure?What is the relationship between the velocity and normal acceleration of the car and the loads and resulting stress acting on the axle?How do you determine the loads acting on the car?What effect do the material properties and dimensions of the axle have on the critical stress values?How does the stress vary along the length of the axle?What is the profile of the track? (INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED ONCE REQUESTED)What are the mass/dimensions of the car/axles/wheels and its occupants? (INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED ONCE REQUESTED)What materials are available for the axle and how much to they cost? (INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED ONCE REQUESTED)

Learning Outcomes

KinematicsDetermination of equation governing velocity / acceleration variation (and hence critical case) for given track profile.

No air-resistance or friction (using conservation of energy and derivation of equations of motion)Including air-resistanceIncluding friction

 KineticsDetermination of loads from calculated acceleration using Free Body Diagram - maximum loads 

Learning OutcomesStaticsConcepts of yield, yield stress and permanent deformation. Construction of Bending moment / Shear force diagram of axleDetermination of second moment of area of circular cross-section – solid and hollowCalculation of bending stress for circular shaft – determination of maximum stress – solid and hollow cross-sectionsSelection of the axle material based upon yield stress and cost.

Learning Outcomes

MatlabCalculation of numerical functions

Plotting of x-y graphs

Numerical solution of first order differential equations

MathematicsAnalytical solution of first order differential equations

DesignDetermine axle dimensions to meet the load case whist minimising cost.

Formative Test

Each Group is provided with an example worksheet on the first Thursday. The Group should work together to advance their knowledge.

On the second Thursday individuals take a short test that is based upon the material in the formative worksheet.

The mark from this counts towards the EW1120 Personal Studies unit.

Group Assessment

In each PBL, the Group is assessed on its overall performance generally at the end of week 1 and at the end of week 2.The form of the assessment is varied (report, presentation, web-site etc.)Individuals are given a mark that uses an electronic peer moderation system that preserves the group mark.

Personal Development

Subsequent to each PBL, each student submits a brief report to their Personal Tutor and makes a short oral presentation to the tutor group regarding their individual development.

The mark from this counts towards EW1130 Personal Development unit.

Facilitation

A good facilitator is ‘a guide on the side’ not ‘the sage on the stage’!A good facilitator must allow a group to deviate from the planned path.A good facilitator will eventually say very little during a session.Facilitation takes no preparation and does not require specialist knowledge.

Group Allocation

Groups are allocated pseudo-randomly at the start of the year.

Students are not allowed to change groups.

Groups are restructured at the start of the second semester.

Groups are typically of 8 students.

Key Issues

Getting the problem statement right.

It is important to expend significant effort in this including test runs on existing students, experts and sixth formers.

Problems can be reused year after year.

Key Issues

Staff TrainingStaff will be placed in an unfamiliar environment in which they will feel insecure. They may not be in control and they may not have expert knowledge. This does not affect the students provided the staff attitude is correct!

Overall, staff loading does not appear to increase.

Key Issues

ResourcesRoomsLibrary books Internet accessRapid feedback of progressCommunication pathways (SSLC etc.)

Key Issues

Student WelfareThe group environment means that students can’t go missing for extended periods of time. One in eight missing is easier to detect than one in 120!

Some students will find the environment too pressured and opt for the quiet life sleeping in lectures.

Key Issues

Reaction timeGiven the degree of difference between this and any other engineering teaching programme, the School must be able to react quickly if things are not going according to plan.

Key Issues

Student Support and GuidanceThe students will need to be told that they are learning! Many of them believe that learning is gauged by the height of a pile of notes! Students generally gain in confidence after the first few weeks of the year.

Key Issues

Leadership

Strong leadership is an absolute essential for this to work. Given an opportunity to deviate from change, most academics will all too readily do so! The half way solution will not be as effective.

Overall Outcomes

No detrimental impact on admissions.

Progression from year 1 has improved from 75% to 86% in the first year of PBL.

Provisional Accreditation has been obtained from both the IMechE and the RAeSoc.

Overall Outcomes

The second version of the first year has been an improvement in terms of its consistency and organisation.

The new second year builds upon processes now established in the first year.

It has taken a lot of effort on behalf of a small number of staff who have piloted the programme through internal and external review.

Overall Outcomes

It has become clear that no other implementation of PBL would have suited our requirements. We have had to develop our own version based on our aims and objectives. Ownership of the programme by the staff is absolutely vital.

Questions?