Integrated multicourse project based learning in electronic engineering

Abstract

This paper presents a challenging, integrated, multicourse, project-based learning (IMPBL) methodology that offers a global formative view and allows a major interrelationship among all the compulsory subjects of the second course of Electronic Engineering degree (EE) of the Higher Technical School of Design Engineering (ETSID) at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV). The global view offered by the IMPBL to students allows them to take on the design and implementation of projects in a more realistic way and to apply this knowledge for solving real industrial projects. Furthermore, some of the most important engineering skills required nowadays such as the ability to communicate effectively, to work in a team, to think both critically and creatively and to manage projects are also introduced through the IMPBL method. The challenges of IMPBL can be stated as: the organization of pedagogical activities that are planned for each of the compulsory subjects involved, the synchronization of the knowledge delivered by each subject, the coordination of the twenty lecturers and the supervision of the 240 students per year performing the IMPBL project. The design and development of a robot arm control project based on the IMPBL methodology is presented. The experience of applying the IMPBL methodology to the EE degree has been successfully rated by student surveys. Likewise, the assessment of the twenty lecturers involved in IMPBL has been very positive. These opinions have lead to continued application and improvements to the IMPBL methodology in the EE degree at ETSID.