Abstract
During the last decade, a total of three student satellites have been developed by engineering students in a Problem and Project-Based Learning (PBL) environment at Aalborg University (AAU), Denmark. As solving such a complex project, we emphasize that a high level of motivation is needed for the students. Thus some efforts have been done on project management style with this aim. However, it is necessary continuous to discuss this issue from the students’ perspective for a better PBL environment. This leads to the research question of how the students perceive their motivation in developing satellite projects in a PBL environment. Empirically, a total of 12 student participants were interviewed. The results show that students’ motivation is highly stimulated by the project management with a series of factors, such as the task characteristics, support of peers, help of supervisors, and openness, etc. However, the time schedule is a barrier to motivation. Thus, the supervisors are suggested to be more aware of the complex relationships between student, teacher, tasks and the students’ response.
Highlights
In recent years, Project-Based Learning (PBL) has been employed by a growing number of educational institutions to foster qualified engineers
Aalborg University (AAU) in Denmark has a tradition of the PBL approach since 1974
The literature demonstrates that AAU has been discussed broadly as an influential PBL model in engineering education, especially with regard to the project characteristics of solving real-life problems and interdisciplinarity [2]
Summary
PBL has been employed by a growing number of educational institutions to foster qualified engineers. The literature demonstrates that AAU has been discussed broadly as an influential PBL model in engineering education, especially with regard to the project characteristics of solving real-life problems and interdisciplinarity [2]. A total of three satellites have been developed, launched and operated exclusively by engineering students at AAU. This huge project was a joint venture between several departments, which included the Department of Electronic Systems, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Energy Technology. In a PBL framework, the primary objective behind all the student satellites from AAU is to develop world-class engineers. By interviewing 12 student participants in the AAUSAT3 satellite project during 2008–2009, the results are expected to contribute to related future studies on teaching engineers using the PBL approach
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