The Development of Sustainable Engineering with PjBL during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Victor Takashi Hayashi1, Reginaldo Arakaki1, Felipe Valencia de Almeida1
1Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, 908, Butantã 05508-010, SP, Brazil.
Summary
Project Based Learning (PjBL) effectively facilitated remote engineering education during the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining comparable student performance. Projects frequently addressed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in health and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Engineering Education
- Cyber-Physical Systems
- Internet of Things (IoT)
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift from traditional on-site engineering education to remote learning.
- This transition disrupted practical, hands-on learning experiences for engineering students.
- Sustainable Engineering education requires integrating competencies in cyber-physical and distributed systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the application of Project Based Learning (PjBL) in remote hardware and software engineering courses during the pandemic.
- To assess student performance in remote versus face-to-face learning environments.
- To identify which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were addressed by student projects.
Main Methods:
- PjBL was implemented across first-, third-, and fifth-year Computer Engineering courses.
- 31 projects involving 81 students were supported in a fully remote setting.
- Student performance data from a Software Engineering course were analyzed and compared.
Main Results:
- PjBL successfully supported practical activities in remote engineering courses.
- No significant differences in student performance were observed between remote and face-to-face offerings.
- The majority of student projects aligned with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Conclusions:
- PjBL is a viable pedagogical approach for delivering remote engineering education, particularly for practical components.
- Remote engineering education can achieve comparable student outcomes to traditional on-site methods.
- Student projects increasingly focus on critical global challenges, reflecting societal priorities such as health and well-being.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:43Sustainable Development
13.4K
As the human population continues to grow and use resources, we must be mindful of our planet’s natural limits. Sustainable development provides a pathway to maintain and improve human life now while also ensuring that future generations will have the resources that they need. The long-term success of sustainability efforts rests on understanding the interplay between human actions and ecological systems.
13.4K
01:26Design Example: Sustainability in Concrete Building
207
As the construction industry moves towards more eco-friendly practices, concrete's adaptability and its ability to incorporate sustainable features make it a key material in the drive towards greener building solutions.
There are multiple approaches to achieve sustainability in a commercial concrete building. For instance, construct a concrete parking area under the building, utilizing pervious concrete paver blocks in open areas to facilitate rainwater collection through an underground...
There are multiple approaches to achieve sustainability in a commercial concrete building. For instance, construct a concrete parking area under the building, utilizing pervious concrete paver blocks in open areas to facilitate rainwater collection through an underground...
207
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
102
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
102
01:20Prestressed Concrete
208
Prestressed concrete is a construction technique designed to enhance the strength and durability of concrete structures. This method involves the application of a pre-set tension to high-strength steel strands used as reinforcement before the concrete is subjected to its working loads. The primary aim of prestressing is to place the concrete in a state of compression, in order to counteract the tensile forces it will experience in service. This pre-compression helps prevent crack formation in...
208
01:22Mechanical Systems
250
Mechanical systems are analogous to to electrical networks where springs and masses play similar roles to inductors and capacitors, respectively. A viscous damper in mechanical systems functions similarly to a resistor in electrical networks, dissipating energy. The forces acting on a mass in such systems include an applied force in the direction of motion, counteracted by forces from the spring, a viscous damper, and the mass's acceleration. This interplay of forces is mathematically...
250
01:18Stress Concentrations in Circular Shafts
214
Consider the elastic torsion formula, which applies to a circular shaft with a consistent cross-section. This formula assumes that the shaft's ends are loaded with rigid plates firmly attached. However, in many cases, torques are applied to the shaft through mechanisms like flange couplings or gears, which are connected by keys inserted into keyways. This application method modifies the stress distribution near the point of torque application, causing it to deviate from the distributions...
214