Project Based Learning experience with engineering students for the design of steel structures

Abstract

[EN] This work describes the Project Based Learning (PBL) experience carried out with engineering students in the field of steel structures design during the academic year 2016-2017 at the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón de la Plana (Spain). This experience is integrated in the Master of Science in Industrial Engineering. The experience consists of simulating the activity of a technical office dedicated to the development of structural projects. A real situation comprising the design and calculation of an industrial building for a costumer is presented to the students. Some geometrical aspects according to the customer desires and the industrial process to be set at the building are specified. The students are organized in groups and have to work in a project to develop a competitive solution to this real necessity within deadline. Finally, a survey is conducted to evaluate both the impact of this experience in the learning process and the students’ degree of satisfaction with respect to this technique. The results of the survey show that PBL promotes the technical training of the students in this field and encourages the development of transversal skills, enhancing, at the same time, their motivation.