Experiential Learning (ExL) – Research Based Learning
“Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.”
— Dr Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Preamble:
The engineering education invites to establish interactive and active activities for a deeper, more comprehensive and far-reaching learning by students. Research-based learning (RBL) consists of a framework that helps to prepare students to be lifelong inquirers and learners. In RBL, students carry out research in their courses independently and with an open outcome. Students learn how to read for understanding, form interpretations, develop and evaluate hypotheses, and think critically and creatively. They learn how to solve problems, challenges, and dilemmas. The students develop an ability to solve real time problems and final outcome the course evaluated through Technical festivals / Conference and Product Expo events.
Introduction:
Research-based learning (RBL) presents as an alternative learning model that can develop the critical thinking skills. The research-based learning is conducted under constructivism which covers four aspects: learning which constructs student’s understanding, learning through developing prior knowledge, learning which involves social interaction process, and meaningful learning which is achieved through real-world experience. The major focus is to engage students in the inquiry process where they formulate questions, conduct investigations, apply information and media to learning, and generate products that illustrate learning. The 5E learning cycle adopted for RBL leads students through five phases: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate which results in greater benefits concerning student’s ability for scientific inquiry.
Course objectives:
- To provide an opportunity for the students to engage in solving the real world problems.
- To introduce the overall process of research from its inception to the report.
- To create the environment for multi disciplinary research.
- Comprehend the role of ethics in research.
Course Outcomes:
- Students develop an ability to carry out a substantial research-based project and product developments.
- Students develop an ability to analyse data and synthesize research findings.
- Report research findings in written and verbal forms.
- Students explore to the modern tools for providing the solutions to the real world problems.
- Students comprehend the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
Mapping of CO and PO:
|
Course Outcomes |
Program Outcomes |
CO1 |
Students develop an ability to carry out a substantial research-based project and product developments |
PO4,PO3 |
CO2 |
Students develop an ability to analyse data and synthesize research findings |
PO2, PO4, PO9, PO10 |
CO3 |
Report research findings in written and verbal forms |
PO2, PO4, PO9, PO10 |
CO4 |
Students explore to the modern tools for providing the solutions to the real world problems |
PO2, PO4, PO9, PO10 |
CO5 |
Students comprehend the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context |
PO2, PO4, PO6, PO9, PO10 |
Evaluation and Continuous Assessment:
The course content includes publishing research paper and development of the product that the students work on during the semester to demonstrate identified problem through extensive literature. Students work on the projects in teams with two to four students per team, and teams may form in interdisciplinary nature. The deliverables for the projects include submission of reports on weekly basis, a proof of- concept and a functional alpha prototype, publishing a research paper. The students also present their work at the end of the semester during product expo of technical festival to show case the research work carried out or product developed Written and oral communication components are intertwined with the project deliverables through required project reports and oral project presentations.
The course is worth one credit hour with the contact time hundred minute session per week. All the sessions in every week is used for project activities, team meetings and prototype building. It is recommended that the all activities are to be record on regular basis and proper documents are to be maintained by students and faculty mentor.
Recommended parameters for assessment, evaluation and weightage:
S.No |
Parameter |
Weightage |
1 |
Literature review |
5% |
2 |
Problem Identification |
25% |
3 |
Proposed Solution |
25% |
4 |
Documentation (Gathering requirements, design & modeling, implementation/execution, use of technology and final report, other documents) |
25% |
5 |
Demonstration (Presentation, User Interface, Usability etc) |
10% |
6 |
Contest Participation/ publication |
5% |
7 |
Awareness /Consideration of -Environment/ Social /Ethics/ Safety measures/Legal aspects |
5% |