Schools like Cal Poly SLO?

retiredfarmer
Sat, 11 Nov 2017 03:47:55 +0000

@rocket88, A basic precept of the project based “learn by doing” process involves the designing of a working solution to a real problem which requires the student to “sort the wheat from the chaff.” This is actually a different thought process than is required to repeat a known procedure back to the teaching faculty as taught in the classroom. It is not just about learning how to use a screwdriver or even a piece of sophisticated laboratory equipment. It is about learning how to sort out relevant information from its real world setting so an effective design can be implemented. This thought process does not lend itself well to the classroom setting. The participating students actually need to experience the research and design themselves to get the full benefit of the exercise. This may or may not happen for every student at a “research” university.

The caliber of the faculty and students at “research” universities is not the question here. We are saying that the students can profit from the direct experience of doing research themselves on ill defined problems. This is what we mean by “hands on” at WPI. A student needs to ride the bike for such a learning experience. This is the toughest part of teaching. I think Cal Poly gets it!
:bz