Developing problem-based learning and international collaboration - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The UK’s European university

Developing problem-based learning and international collaboration

Dr Richard Guest Professor John Batchelor School of Engineering and Digital Arts

Engineering – Transferable Skills

• Engineering has a (UK) image problem
• Not a solitary task – communication is critical
• Teamwork element to all engineering projects
• Very often cross-cultural with an international focus
• Engineering is problem solving with science
• A need to instil professional design and decision making

within the curriculum

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EL311 – The Story of a Module

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• EDA teaches two streams of Engineering:
• Computer Systems Engineering
• Electronic and Communication Engineering
• A key module in the first year is EL311 – the Robotics

Project

• Runs for two terms – practical hardware and software

development, control, design and testing

• Also teaches the basics of lab-based practical construction

EL311 – The Story of a Module

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• Students are required to design a line-following robotic

vehicle that can automatically steer according to a printed track.

• Pre-2015/16 - competition element whereby students

raced their robot around a simple race track with competition marks given for speed and accuracy.

• Marks were awarded throughout the project, on a report

and on a final demonstration.

EL311 – Issues

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• Possible isolated development.
• Variable rates of progress (often depending on background).
• The need to maintain interest of all students.
• ‘Tiredness’ of module – the need to revamp.
• Extension of competition element – external competitions.

Internationalisation and Development

• Summer 2014 - approach by Université Paris Ouest

Nanterre La Défense (Paris X) to visit Canterbury.

• Discussions around research and teaching.
• Realisation that there was commonality between first

year curriculum – both needed re-energising.

• Faculty Internationalisation Fund allowed a visit to Paris in

Autumn 2014

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The Redeveloped Module

• Competition element – agreed format.
• An agreed set of tracks and obstacles.
• Common hardware and software platforms.
• Entry of all teams from both institutions that have passed a

minimum standard during construction.

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The Redeveloped Module

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• The use of a blog to enable dialog and progress discussion

between the two institutions.

• A high profile video-linked competition day to be held at

the end of the Spring term.

• Possible exchange of students/winners for summer

internships – ERASMUS+

The Redeveloped Module

• Collaboration between teaching and technical support

teams to improve the student experience (and learning support) offered.

• Curriculum rationalisation – extending the reach of able

students without penalising those at the lower end.

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Robotic Systems Development

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Competition Day

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Added Value

• Motivation of students to make original contributions to

specified robot systems in order to make them competition worthy.

• The module remains applicable to the entire cohort

requiring the Learning Outcomes and Key Skills associated with the implementation of a prescribed robot chassis driven by a control system.

• 70% of the assessment marks are available for a perfect

achievement of these requirements.

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Added Value

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• The defined reward of additional contributions

encourages not only expectations of further achievement in first years, but also by the introduction of responsive assessment periods earlier in Term 2

• Students are steered from regarding hard deadline dates

as expected delivery dates.

• The early delivery of primary parts enables the projects to

be further improved.

Thoughts and Observations

• Students thrive on the competition element
• Additional studies are not seen as coursework
• French students are keener to interact with UK students
• Independence of study highlighted early on
• The importance of deadlines
• Team-based and international!
• Future initiatives include wider international

competitions (joint entries) and teaching initiatives.

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THE UK’S EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY

www.kent.ac.uk