Project Based Learning Using Tablet Pcs: A Practice To Enhance Design Components In Engineering Instruction

This paper presents a Collaborative Project Based Learning model using Tablet PCs to enhance the design components in engineering classroom instruction. The core of our proposed model is to incorporate small in-class Tablet PC-based collaborative design projects to reinforce theory with design examples and to guide students through the design process. This PBL model has been implementation in three core computer engineering courses (Microcontroller Programming, Computer Logic Design, and Multimedia Networking) since Fall 2005 and the students’ feedback has been very positive. In all pilot classes that incorporated the model, a significant improvement of students’ hands-on skills was observed. The broad implementation of the model demonstrates that it could be applied to any course where computer aided or assisted design is an essential component. Course level assessment results will be included to show the impact on teaching efficiency and student learning outcomes. In addition, potential problems and implementation challenges will be discussed for future improvement.