Project-Based Learning Approach for Undergraduate Electrical Engineering Laboratories: A Case Study

Teaching undergraduate electrical engineering laboratories with disconnected or disjointed experiments presents several disadvantages, including fragmented learning, limited real-world application, and inefficient skill development. Students may struggle with understanding system integration, teamwork, and the engineering design process. A project-based learning (PBL) approach wherein a connected series of experiments that culminates in a comprehensive project can provide a more cohesive, practical, and engaging learning experience, better preparing students for the complexities of real-world engineering challenges. In this paper, we present a case study of applying PBL approach in the teaching of Microcontroller Systems Lab in the department of Electrical Engineering at Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University (PMU), Saudi Arabia. Students taking this lab work on a series of experiments to build a robotic car with multiple functions. Survey results are presented that validate the effectiveness of this approach.