Enhancing the Problem-Solving Learning Process by Adding Hands-on Experiences in the Civil Engineering Courses.

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This project strengthens Civil Engineering courses in structures by combining problem-based learning and hands-on experiences to expose students to realistic design and analysis challenges. The implementation at the University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez is based on two adaptations. First, the problem based learning approach is adapted from work at McMaster University, MIT, Dartmouth College, and other universities. Second, the hands-on approach is adapted from the Mechanical Dissection work at Tuskegee University, as well as similar efforts at Purdue University, Cornell University, and other schools.The main objectives of the project are: 1) to modify the current undergraduate structural engineering courses to incorporate skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, and real-world applications; 2) to enhance each student's ability to use the techniques, skills, and tools necessary for the future multidisciplinary environment of engineering practice; 3) to complement the civil engineering department's plan to develop its current curriculum to meet accreditation criteria. The following two tasks are being completed: development of a workbench for undergraduate structural testing applications, and the incorporation of the hands-on learning technique in current courses.