Implementing Sustainable Development through Problem-Based Learning: Pedagogy and Practice
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 129, Issue 4
Abstract
This paper presents an approach for implementing sustainability within a university environment, and for helping students become more effective problem solvers and professionals. In a “Sustainable Urban Development” course, taught by the writer, students develop projects to make their campus and community more sustainable. In the process, students learn how to analyze sustainability, work with decision makers, and put classroom knowledge into practice. Further, through this course’s emphasis on problem-based learning, students acquire critical cognitive skills and professional skills as they tackle complex, interdisciplinary, and real-world problems. Systematic evaluations of the course offer useful lessons. One is how to create synergies. For instance, while students benefited from hands-on experience with sustainability, the university benefited from students’ work. Another is how to demonstrate and quantify benefits from sustainability, which is vital to gaining support. Yet another is how to enable students to learn from both successful and unsuccessful attempts to implement ideas. Courses such as this can create important bridges between theory and application, and between education and professional practice.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 129 • Issue 4 • October 2003
Pages: 216 - 224
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 24, 2000
Accepted: Oct 2, 2002
Published online: Sep 15, 2003
Published in print: Oct 2003
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