Implementation of online problem-based learning for mechanical engineering students

An online B. Sc. program in mechanical engineering offers the students a flexible way to obtain a university degree in engineering, parallel to work and family life. However, the lecturers of the online program face the challenge to keep the students in the courses. The rate of dropouts can be reduced if the students participate actively in the course and feel responsibility and community with other students. These factors can be promoted by cooperative learning techniques, e.g. problem-based learning. This paper presents how problem-based learning was applied to an introductory laboratory class, taught completely online, for mechanical engineering students. We discuss the teaching framework of the laboratory class, as well as the results from the first in-class usage of the approach. Furthermore, a comparison with a previously used technique is given.