Assessing design process knowledge in project-based learning: a comparative study in introductory engineering and junior manufacturing courses

Project-based learning (PBL) has gained widespread acceptance as a cutting-edge teaching approach in universities, particularly for imparting engineering design skills. PBL allows students to showcase their design skills and put into practice the theoretical concepts acquired through instruction. Th...

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Main Authors: Emmanuella Ejichukwu, DeLean Tolbert Smith, Georges Ayoub
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2024-01-01
Series:Design Science
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2053470124000295/type/journal_article
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author Emmanuella Ejichukwu
DeLean Tolbert Smith
Georges Ayoub
author_facet Emmanuella Ejichukwu
DeLean Tolbert Smith
Georges Ayoub
author_sort Emmanuella Ejichukwu
collection DOAJ
description Project-based learning (PBL) has gained widespread acceptance as a cutting-edge teaching approach in universities, particularly for imparting engineering design skills. PBL allows students to showcase their design skills and put into practice the theoretical concepts acquired through instruction. Throughout the various phases of the design process and project execution, students prepare design artifacts, which serve as tangible indicators of their design skills – an essential competency for engineers. The objective of this research is to evaluate and compare the application of engineering design skills among first-year and third-year engineering students as evidenced by their design artifacts. This comparative analysis aims to pinpoint areas of strength and opportunities for growth, thereby offering a holistic view of student development in design proficiency throughout their undergraduate education. Employing a standardized rubric to evaluate these artifacts allows for an unbiased assessment of the students’ design process acumen. The findings offer insights into the design skill proficiency of two student groups at different points in the design process. It is imperative for engineering educators to strategically highlight every aspect of the design process within PBL, ensuring the comprehensive development of design competencies.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2053-4701
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publishDate 2024-01-01
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series Design Science
spelling doaj-art-c6bdba5e87fd497d8d3a9491ef00fa002024-12-02T10:19:28ZengCambridge University PressDesign Science2053-47012024-01-011010.1017/dsj.2024.29Assessing design process knowledge in project-based learning: a comparative study in introductory engineering and junior manufacturing coursesEmmanuella Ejichukwu0DeLean Tolbert Smith1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3729-1772Georges Ayoub2Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Department, University of Michigan – Dearborn, Dearborn, MI, USAIndustrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Department, University of Michigan – Dearborn, Dearborn, MI, USAIndustrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Department, University of Michigan – Dearborn, Dearborn, MI, USAProject-based learning (PBL) has gained widespread acceptance as a cutting-edge teaching approach in universities, particularly for imparting engineering design skills. PBL allows students to showcase their design skills and put into practice the theoretical concepts acquired through instruction. Throughout the various phases of the design process and project execution, students prepare design artifacts, which serve as tangible indicators of their design skills – an essential competency for engineers. The objective of this research is to evaluate and compare the application of engineering design skills among first-year and third-year engineering students as evidenced by their design artifacts. This comparative analysis aims to pinpoint areas of strength and opportunities for growth, thereby offering a holistic view of student development in design proficiency throughout their undergraduate education. Employing a standardized rubric to evaluate these artifacts allows for an unbiased assessment of the students’ design process acumen. The findings offer insights into the design skill proficiency of two student groups at different points in the design process. It is imperative for engineering educators to strategically highlight every aspect of the design process within PBL, ensuring the comprehensive development of design competencies.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2053470124000295/type/journal_articleEngineering design skillsAssessmentProject-based learningRubric-based assessmentTeam-based project
spellingShingle Emmanuella Ejichukwu
DeLean Tolbert Smith
Georges Ayoub
Assessing design process knowledge in project-based learning: a comparative study in introductory engineering and junior manufacturing courses
Design Science
Engineering design skills
Assessment
Project-based learning
Rubric-based assessment
Team-based project
title Assessing design process knowledge in project-based learning: a comparative study in introductory engineering and junior manufacturing courses
title_full Assessing design process knowledge in project-based learning: a comparative study in introductory engineering and junior manufacturing courses
title_fullStr Assessing design process knowledge in project-based learning: a comparative study in introductory engineering and junior manufacturing courses
title_full_unstemmed Assessing design process knowledge in project-based learning: a comparative study in introductory engineering and junior manufacturing courses
title_short Assessing design process knowledge in project-based learning: a comparative study in introductory engineering and junior manufacturing courses
title_sort assessing design process knowledge in project based learning a comparative study in introductory engineering and junior manufacturing courses
topic Engineering design skills
Assessment
Project-based learning
Rubric-based assessment
Team-based project
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2053470124000295/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT emmanuellaejichukwu assessingdesignprocessknowledgeinprojectbasedlearningacomparativestudyinintroductoryengineeringandjuniormanufacturingcourses
AT deleantolbertsmith assessingdesignprocessknowledgeinprojectbasedlearningacomparativestudyinintroductoryengineeringandjuniormanufacturingcourses
AT georgesayoub assessingdesignprocessknowledgeinprojectbasedlearningacomparativestudyinintroductoryengineeringandjuniormanufacturingcourses