Problem-Based Learning for Laboratory

1
Problem-Based Learning forLaboratory
Professional Skills Teaching
. how I binned the Lab Manual and got away with
it.

• Kevin Wells
• SCEPTrE Fellow
• Dept of Electronic Engineering, FEPS
• University of Surrey

2
Overview

• Background
• Motivation
• Planning
• Implementation
• Analysis
• Follow on
• Conclusions

3
Overview

• Background
• Motivation
• Planning
• Implementation
• Analysis
• Follow on
• Conclusions

4
Background
5
Background
First year Laboratory Programme

• Lab lectures 1hr
• 6 hours per week 2 x 3 hrs
• Experiment Rotation working pairs
• Weekly
• Assessment PG Demonstrators
• Prep, Progress, Log

6
Background
Professional Skills Programme Mandatory component
for IET accreditation

• Lectures 1 hr
• Workshops 2 hrs
• Assessment Academic/PG
  Demonstrators

7
Background
Professional Skills Programme Mandatory component
for IET accreditation
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Skills of a Professional Engineer
  IET Competence StatementsChartered Engineers
must be competent, by virtue of their initial
formation and throughout their working life, to
A - Use a combination of general and specialist
engineering knowledge and understanding to
optimise the application of existing and emerging
technology.
B - Apply appropriate theoretical and practical
methods to the analysis and solution of
engineering problems - plan and implement
solutions, taking a Holistic approach to cost,
benefits, safety, reliability,
appearance and environmental impact. -
evaluate solutions and make improvements.
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Skills of a Professional Engineer
  C - Provide technical, commercial and
managerial leadership. This includes - plan for
effective project implementation. - plan,
budget, organise, direct and control tasks,
people or resources. - develop the capabilities
of staff to meet the demands of changing
technical and managerial requirements. -
bring about continuous improvement through
quality management.D - Use effective
communication and Interpersonal skills. This
includes - work and communicate with others at
all levels. - presentation and discussion of
ideas and plans. - build teams and negotiate.
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Background

• Engineers MUST be able to communicate to
• engineers scientists
• clients
• the public
• via
• technical oral presentations
• technical written reports
• to convey new ideas to a broad audience.

11
Overview

• Background
• Motivation
• Planning
• Implementation
• Analysis
• Follow on

12
Motivation
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Motivation
Professional Skills Programme Mandatory component
for IET accreditation
. in order to fail.
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Motivation
First year Laboratory Programme
Over assessment .. potentially
disadvantaged our best students .. perennial
complaints about apparent PG bias
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Motivation
First year Laboratory Programme
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Motivation
Address some/all these issues by addressing them
as a single problem
Laboratory Skills
Professional Skills
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Motivation
Address some/all these issues by addressing them
as a single problem
Enhance student engagement with learning
Laboratory Skills
Professional Skills
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Overview

• Background
• Motivation
• Planning
• Implementation
• Analysis
• Follow on

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Planning
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Planning
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Planning
Professional
Student
Week
Skills/Design
Assessment
Lab Session
Assessment
Preparation
session
2
E1
Peer-based
3
E2
E1
assessment
Peer-based
E1 - Transistor
4
Project
E2
single mark
assessment
Amplifier
Project
Peer-based
5
E2 - Filter Design
single mark
Criteria Design
assessment
6
Project
Feedback only
7
Project
Feedback only
8

Project
Feedback only
Peer-based
9
Project Showcase
assessment
22
Planning
Professional
Student
Week
Skills/Design
Assessment
Lab Session
Assessment
Preparation
session
2
E1
Peer-based
3
E2
E1
assessment
Peer-based
E1 - Transistor
4
Project
E2
single mark
assessment
Amplifier
Project
Peer-based
5
E2 - Filter Design
single mark
Criteria Design
assessment
6
Project
Feedback only
7
Project
Feedback only
8

Project
Feedback only
Peer-based
9
Project Showcase
assessment
23
Planning
Professional
Student
Week
Skills/Design
Assessment
Lab Session
Assessment
Preparation
session
2
E1
Peer-based
3
E2
E1
assessment
Peer-based
4
Project
E2
assessment
Project
Peer-based
5
E2 - Filter Design
single mark
Criteria Design
assessment
6
Project
Feedback only
7
Project
Feedback only
8

Project
Feedback only
Peer-based
9
Project Showcase
assessment
24
Planning
Professional
Student
Week
Skills/Design
Assessment
Lab Session
Assessment
Preparation
session
2
E1
Peer-based
3
E2
E1
assessment
Peer-based
E1 - Transistor
4
Project
E2
single mark
assessment
Amplifier
Project
Peer-based
5
E2 - Filter Design
single mark
Criteria Design
assessment
6
Project
Feedback only
7
Project
Feedback only
8

Project
Feedback only
Peer-based
9
Project Showcase
assessment
25
Planning
Professional
Student
Week
Skills/Design
Assessment
Lab Session
Assessment
Preparation
session
2
E1
Peer-based
3
E2
E1
assessment
Peer-based
E1 - Transistor
4
Project
E2
single mark
assessment
Amplifier
Project
Peer-based
5
E2 - Filter Design
single mark
Criteria Design
assessment
6
Project
Feedback only
7
Project
Feedback only
8

Project
Feedback only
Peer-based
9
Project Showcase
assessment
26
Planning
Professional
Student
Week
Skills/Design
Assessment
Lab Session
Assessment
Preparation
session
2
E1
Peer-based
3
E2
E1
assessment
Peer-based
E1 - Transistor
4
Project
E2
single mark
assessment
Amplifier
Project
Peer-based
5
E2 - Filter Design
single mark
Criteria Design
assessment
6
Project
Feedback only
7
Project
Feedback only
8

Project
Feedback only
Peer-based
9
Project Showcase
assessment
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Overview

• Background
• Motivation
• Planning
• Implementation
• Analysis
• Follow on

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Implementation

• Buy out
• Web pages
• Session Plans
• Peer assessment scheme
• Design examples

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Implementation

• Web pages replace lab lectures lab manual

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Implementation

• Design session PA

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Implementation

• Design session PA
• Brain storming
• Mind mapping
• Team ex.

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Implementation

• Judgements / criteria
• Peer Designed PA

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Implementation

• 3 cycles of 3 week Design process PA
• 2 weeks of E Design briefing practicals
• DVD Short 30 min Teaching vid
• 3 weeks of L1 Project
• Final week project showcase paired PA
• using peer-designed PA scheme

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Implementation

• DVD Short 30 min Teaching vid

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Overview

• Background
• Motivation
• Planning
• Implementation
• Analysis
• Follow on

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Analysis

• Plot mean project showcase mark vs PA marks

Outliers rejected by thresholding
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Analysis

• Plot PA marks vs PG Demonstrator marks

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Analysis

• Student questionnaire

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Analysis

• Student questionnaire Prof Skills

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Analysis

• Student questionnaire Prof Skills

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Analysis

• Student questionnaire

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Analysis

• Student questionnaire Lab

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Analysis

• Student questionnaire Lab

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Overview

• Background
• Motivation
• Planning
• Implementation
• Analysis
• Follow on

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Follow On

• Autumn Semester Lab Programme

- 2 weeks assessment free - feedback forms
single grades
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Follow On

• Autumn Semester Lab Programme

• - new workshop training session
• - new competency test
• ? follow-up skills session

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Follow On

• Spring Semester Lab/Prof Skills Programme

- Choose 3 from 5 scripted experiments - 4
weeks of Design Briefings
- 3 week Lab Project - 1 week Project Showcase
PA
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Conclusions / Lessons Learnt

• Many students liked the new style of working
• - and others did
  not
• Students seemed very comfortable with directed
  web-based learning
• There is some evidence that student satisfaction
  has improved enhanced student engagement ?
• Demonstrator bias seems to have disappeared
• Students may not be aware of Skills training
  aspect
• L1 students cannot do PA - requires training and
  QA checks

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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following staff that
helped make this SCEPTrE Fellowship
project SCEPTrE Jo Tait, Norman Jackson and
Fred Buining EE Janco Calic
Jeremy Allan, Phil Jackson, Graham
Reed Richard Clarke, Bill Backhouse, Dave
Fishlock
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Questions?
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The end
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Acknowledgements
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EDPS Themes

• Aims/Objectives in Year 1
• Key Individual Communication Skills -
• Written - technical reports, info. retrieval
• Diagramatic - technical drawings, interpretation
• Verbal - EFFECTIVE presentations, meetings
• Intro to time/project management, team working

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EDPS L1 Course Summary

• Semester 1
• Basic MS Office skills
• Information retrieval
• Technical report writing
• Technical drawing

• Semester 2
• Presentations Skills
• Time Management
• Data Presentation Analysis
• Managing professional meetings
• Project Documentation

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EDPS L1 Course Summary

• Semester 1
• Basic MS Office skills
• Information retrieval
• Technical report writing
• Technical drawing

• Semester 2
• Presentations Skills
• Time Management
• Data Presentation Analysis
• Managing professional meetings
• Project Documentation

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Planning