Quantitative And Qualitative Assessment Of Using Pbl In A Mechanical Measurements Class

McKeachie and Gibbs, in their tenth edition of Teaching Tips, say, “Problem-based Learning (PBL) is one of the most important developments in contemporary higher education.” This paper gives a brief introduction to PBL and describes a PBL module that was developed, implemented, and assessed in a Mechanical Measurements class. The assessment results indicate that the PBL method significantly improves important skills such as analyzing and solving open ended, real-world problems; finding, evaluating, and using appropriate learning resources; working cooperatively in teams; and communicating effectively, verbally and in writing. Our study, like many other studies, also indicates that there was no gain in students’ performance on standard tests and exams, and more research is needed. However, it is important to note that students’ performance on the standard tests and exams did not decline either. Based on the above results, we are planning to increase the number of PBL exercises in the measurements course with the support from the NSF and industry.