Project-based Approach to Implement a STEM-Focused Engineering Curriculum

Abstract

In recent decades, integrated science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) projects are occupying a central place in science and engineering curricula. The interest of this problem-based teaching approach in a scientific-technical context lies in finding ways to develop students’ content knowledge and to plan appropriate learning activities and instructional strategies. This paper focuses on designing, implementing and evaluating the introduction of STEM projects in the first year of the engineering degree of a Dual Engineering School. The focus of this study is the use of learning activities such as “predict and argument” and “design and do” to integrate STEM content into lessons and help students develop core competencies through engineering design processes. The evaluation results indicate that students moderately improve their scientific skills and conceptual understanding in the disciplines included in the project.