Group Work Induction Workshop School of Electrical Engineering Systems

Group Work Induction Group Work Induction WorkshopWorkshop

School of Electrical Engineering School of Electrical Engineering SystemsSystems

Module OverviewModule Overview

• Instrumentation project is to ….

Work in a group to design, build and test a weather station and display the data on a web page

What is an engineer?What is an engineer?

• In your groups, brainstorm this question

• Think of the skills and attributes a good engineer should possess

• You will be one some day soon!

• You’ve got 2 mins. Brainstorm means throw out ideas without judgement or criticism. Every idea is good at this stage!

Engineers Ireland RequirementsEngineers Ireland Requirements

• The ability to derive and apply solutions from a knowledge of sciences, engineering sciences, technology and mathematics;

• The ability to identify, formulate, analyse and solve engineering problems

• The ability to design a system, component or process to meet specified needs, to design and conduct experiments and to analyse and interpret data

• The ability to work effectively as an individual, in teams and in multi-disciplinary settings

• An understanding of the need for high ethical standards in the practice of engineering, including the responsibilities of the engineering profession towards people and the environment

• The ability to communicate effectively with the engineering community and with society at large

• The capacity to undertake lifelong learning

In addition …In addition …

• The Forfás expert group on future skills needs said in November 2009 …

“The capacity of being able to work effectively with others from across a wide range of disciplines is a feature of the most creative and productive individuals in an enterprise context. In practice, in a learning environment therefore, this should involve engagement in collaborative cross-disciplinary projects as much as possible”

Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (2009). Skills In Creativity, Design and Innovation: Forfás

Learning & TeachingLearning & Teaching

21 April 2023PBL Induction

• Learning is…– gaining new knowledge– understanding new knowledge– finding things out– what happens when you experience

something new– developing new skills

What is Learning?What is Learning?


• Learning occurs when you gain new knowledge, or develop new skills, that you understand and know– when to use– how to use– where to use

What is Learning?What is Learning?


• We learn...

• In your groups brainstorm this for 2 mins

How do we learn?How do we learn?


• We learn– By experience– By guidance– By exploration– By making mistakes– In context– By reflection

How do we learn?How do we learn?

Learning is…Learning is…

• “Learning without thinking is for nothing. Thinking without learning is dangerous.Making a mistake and not correcting it is a mistake.”

• Shaolin monastery in China


• Teaching should be...

• In your groups brainstorm this for 2 mins

What is Teaching?What is Teaching?


• Teaching is – helping students to become self-directed

learners– guiding and facilitating the learning process– providing the opportunity for students to

explore their knowledge and understanding– allowing students to make mistakes and learn

from experience– providing feedback in the learning process

What is Teaching?What is Teaching?


“You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within himself” - Galileo

Teaching and LearningTeaching and Learning

“I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn” - Albert Einstein

And another!And another!

• “By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”

• Confucius


Education ResearchEducation Research• Lessons learned

– Importance of active and student-centred learning

– Importance of developing lifelong learning skills

– Importance of learning in context

– Education approach will determine students approach to learning

– Assessment drives learning

– Students cannon be treated as “empty vessels”

– Students construct their own knowledge and understanding

– The potential of group learning


• Problem-based Learning is what happens when– students are presented with particular types of

problems before covering the relevant material

– students work in groups and have roles within the

groups

– students engage in self-directed study

– students are assessed in certain ways

– tutors behave in a certain way

What is Problem-based What is Problem-based Learning?Learning?


Students in groups:•Encounter a problem without any preparatory study•Interact with each other to explore their existing knowledge•Form and test hypotheses•Identify further learning needs•Undertake self-study between group meetings •Return to the group to integrate the newly gained knowledge•Repeat steps 3 to 6 as necessary

Problem-based LearningProblem-based Learning


Group learning allows students to– explore and discover a variety of perspectives– learn in different ways– engage in complexity and ambiguity– recognise the gaps in their understanding– learn by teaching– develop listening, explaining and questioning skills– develop a sense of group identity– increase their emotional connection with a topic– exercise leadership and other roles– form independent judgements

What is Group Learning?What is Group Learning?

Volunteers needed!Volunteers needed!

• We will now run a live demonstration of a group working on a problem

• Pay attention because we will be asking you to give feedback afterwards

Let’s give feedbackLet’s give feedback

• A – offered lots of ideas, thought before talking, explained ideas well, did homework

• B – said very little, texted a friend, sat on the fence, had done no homework

• C – talked too much, had nothing to back it up, only liked own ideas, didn’t listen

• D – tried to summarise progress, encouraged others to talk, helped build on other’s ideas

Documents

Group Work Induction Workshop School of Electrical Engineering Systems