Project Approaches to Learning in Engineering Education:The Practice of Teamwork

Project approaches in engineering education are a relatively recent phenomenon in Portugal, Spain and Latin-America. Teachers, educational researchers and managers in engineering education are discovering the added value of team work, solving interdisciplinary open-ended problems in a meaningful learning environment that is similar to the professional context of future engineers. This book seeks to present a wide range of experiences of project approaches to engineering education, varying from mature to starting. It discusses different aspects of project approaches like project management, teacher training, assessment and institutional support. It also describes experiences taking place in a number of countries - Portugal, Brazil, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Spain and Australia - in order to provide an overview of project approaches in different cultural backgrounds. It aims to encourage those who are considering project approaches in their own engineering education context, taking into account the advantages of training future engineers through project work, while being aware of the challenges that a shift from traditional education to a project may bring.