Application of Project-Based Learning (PBL) Method in a Senior Year Engineering Design Course

In this paper, application of project based learning (PBL) methodology in teaching civil engineering courses is investigated.Project-based learning method, although closely related to problem-based learning, has significant points of difference.While the latter addresses introducing real life mainly ill-structured problems to students as a learning resource, the former is known more in the sense of structuring of a full project, which may or may not include a real open-end problem.The literature concerning this methodology which focus on its application in engineering design teaching is briefly reviewed in the paper.Project-based learning focuses on using predefined projects as teaching tools in order to simulate the conditions of real life projects, on the other hand, in problem-based learning method the problems presented to the learner as replications of ill-structured problems in the real life settings of that field.As an example for project-based learning practice, process of incorporation of a design project in 'foundation design' course is described.Significant changes were observed in students' understanding and attitude towards foundation design concept in engineering.The subject of this case study 'foundation design" course is a senior year civil engineering course and the process and findings of during implementation of PBL method conducted by the author are described.Based on the previous literature as well as this study, a number of recommendations for the future are given.