An experiment in Project Based Learning: A comparison of attitudes between Russia and America

Abstract

As part of the Scientific School on "Higher Technical Education as an Instrument of Innovative Development", we gave a workshop on Project Based Learning using the "Build a Skyscraper" project to Russian educators from Kazan National Research Technological University. Subsequently this same workshop was given to a similar group of American students and educators from Western Carolina University. This project is intended for second year students in engineering. Skills to be exercised during this project include team building, interpersonal skills, project management, formation of customers' requirement and complex problem solving. An assessment tool was developed to gather feedback on the workshop and the experience. This paper concentrates on the assessment data and discusses interesting and surprising differences in attitudes as well as similarities between these two audiences. © 2012 American Society for Engineering Education.