Implementation Of A Problem Finding And Problem Solving Oriented Engineering Experiment Course In A Large Class

Fundamental Lab for Engineering ( FLE ) I, II and III at Kanazawa Institute of Technology ( KIT ) are mandatory engineering experiment courses for 1st and 2nd year undergraduate students. In 2005, approximately 1,700 students enrolled in the courses. The main objective of the courses is to train students in fundamental experimental skills so that students will be able to use an experiment as a flexible tool for problem-finding and problem-solving in a self-directed manner. To realize this objective, the curriculum has been designed to instruct them to go through the whole process of experimentation starting with finding a problem followed by conducting an experiment and ending with writing a report of the experiment, and to provide them with the opportunity to have hands-on experience in dealing with all skills of the "fundamentals of the experimental method" on a theme/problem. In order to enhance learning outcome, team-based learning and poster sessions have been adopted. Several advantages have been found in a large class. Large lab courses have been successfully organized using various measures including tight communication between instructors, individual counseling during lessons, and safety measures by both of instructors and students. This paper introduces the curriculum, guidelines, examples of themes / problems that students have actually tackled, the advantages of a large class and how to organize a large class.