Abstract
This article presents an experience of application of the Learning by Doing methodology through a Project Based Learning (PjBL) activity in the “Computer Science” compulsory subject, which belongs to the first year of the Electrical Engineering degree at the University of A Coruña. The goal was to increase the students’ self-learning, leading to a lower degree of plagiarism and a higher motivation. The main contribution of this experience is on the introduction of a real problem to be fully solved in a first year compulsory subject. The results obtained during two academic years, applying this learning by doing methodology, showed an increase in student motivation to reach a value of 94% and also a 60% reduction of similarity between submitted programs. In addition to describing the experience and analyzing the results, the didactic impacts are discussed in a more global way.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
References
Balve, P., Albert, M.: Project-based learning in production engineering at the Heilbronn learning factory. Proc. CIRP 32, 104–108 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2015.02.215
Blumenfeld, P.C., Soloway, E., Marx, R.W., Krajcik, J.S., Guzdial, M., Palincsar, A.: Motivating project-based learning: sustaining the doing, supporting the learning. Educ. Psychol. 26(3–4), 369–398 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.1991.9653139
Chen, C.H., Yang, Y.C.: Revisiting the effects of project-based learning on students’ academic achievement: a meta-analysis investigating moderators. Educ. Res. Rev. 26, 71–81 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2018.11.001
Guo, P., Saab, N., Post, L.S., Admiraal, W.: A review of project-based learning in higher education: student outcomes and measures. Int. J. Educ. Res. 102, 101586 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2020.101586
Holm, M.: Project-based instruction: a review of the literature on effectiveness in prekindergarten through 12th grade classrooms. Rivier Acad. J. 7(2), 1–13 (2018)
Jensen, A.A., Stentoft, D., Ravn, O.: Interdisciplinarity and Problem-Based Learning in Higher Education Research and Perspectives from Aalborg University: Research and Perspectives from Aalborg University. Springer, Heidelberg (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18842-9
Lasauskiene, J., Rauduvaite, A.: Project-based learning at university: teaching experiences of lecturers. Proc. Soc. Behav. Sci. 197, 788–792 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.07.182
Stanford University: MOSS: a system for detecting software similarity. http://theory.stanford.edu/~aiken/moss/
Yadav, A., Shaver, G.M., Meckl, P.: Lessons learned: implementing the case teaching method in a mechanical engineering course. J. Eng. Educ. 99(1), 55–69 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2010.tb01042.x
Acknowledgment
The authors wish to acknowledge the support received from the CITIC research center, funded by Xunta de Galicia and European Regional Development Fund by grant ED431G 2019/01. We also would like to acknowledge to the Escuela Universitaria Politécnica of the University of A Coruña for the support for the acquisition of the robots and the experimental setups of the challenges.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Fontenla-Romero, O., Bellas, F., Sánchez-Maroño, N., Becerra, J.A. (2022). Learning by Doing in Higher Education: An Experience to Increase Self-learning and Motivation in First Courses. In: Gude Prego, J.J., de la Puerta, J.G., García Bringas, P., Quintián, H., Corchado, E. (eds) 14th International Conference on Computational Intelligence in Security for Information Systems and 12th International Conference on European Transnational Educational (CISIS 2021 and ICEUTE 2021). CISIS - ICEUTE 2021. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1400. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87872-6_33
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87872-6_33
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-87871-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-87872-6
eBook Packages: Intelligent Technologies and RoboticsIntelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)