Evaluating the Influence of PBL on the Development of Soft Skills in a Computer Engineering Undergraduate Program

Abstract

This research full paper investigates the development of soft skills of undergraduate students in a Computer Engineering program that uses problem-based learning (PBL) as its main learning approach. As the role of engineers have changed over the years, their need for a different set of skills has increased. Communication, leadership, creativity and management, known as soft skills, are increasingly needed in their positions. For that reason, undergraduate programs have been pushing to add the development of soft skills in their curriculum. One way to accomplish that change is using active learning approaches. Such approaches usually lead to more student participation in the learning process and, consequently, the development of particular soft skills. This research investigates the use of the active learning approach of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) to enable the development of soft skills of Computer Engineering undergraduate students. Students’ skills were assessed through a Likert Scale questionnaire, investigating eight skill categories: Self-Management, Management, Interpersonal skills, Communication, Leadership, Decision Making and Problem Solving, Organization, and Analysis and Creativity. Results show that the students’ perceptions of their own skills drop during the course of their studies, but rise when they get closer to their graduation.