Implementation and outcome of a Problem-Based Learning proposal for an Environmental Engineering Bachelor

Abstract

This paper presents a teaching-learning proposal that offers to undergraduate students of the new environmental engineering degree program the acquisition of the knowledge and skills required to solve complex problems, quite usual on this engineering branch. This proposal was prepared for the Geology and Pedology course and we have analyzed the outcomes both in terms of academic achievement and in the student´s attitude towards this course. The teaching-learning design is based on the problem-based learning (PBL) method. At the beginning of the term, we introduced the students to a complex interdisciplinary problem closely related to their future professional practice. Particularly, students had to face a dilemma about the suitability of different sites to build a municipal solid waste landfill. To guide the students throughout the selection process for the best alternative, we provided them with a series of individual and group activities. Our results reveal that our proposal is an effective method to improve the academic performance. Moreover, it also favours the involvement of the students and their motivation towards learning. All students passed the course and average score was outstanding (B). The experience was rated as satisfactory by 93% of them and 73% thought that this method assisted them to learn more or much more than with the conventional teaching-learning one. In addition, this approach has contributed to the development of competencies and skills highly relevant for their future professional performance.

Keywords

• ingeniería ambiental
• motivación
• interdisciplinariedad
• desarrollo de competencias
• aprendizaje activo y cooperativo
• problemas ambientales