Implementation of project-based learning in biomedical engineering course in ITB: Opportunities and challenges

Abstract

Introduction to Biomedical Engineering is an elective course for final year undergraduate student. For the last two years, 2015–2016, the traditional learning was implemented in this course. In 2017, project-based learning (PBL), was applied to the course. The goals is to enable students to take initiative, identify and solve the problems, work and communicate ideas in team, build responsibility and confidence. This paper will focus on implementation of PBL, specifically on the opportunities and challenges. The students choose their own topic, identify and explain what is the topic, why they choose that, and how they solve the problem. They have to review the existing solution and they should propose a new solution. Finally, they have to submit a report, then present their work in class attended by all the students and instructor. Using this learning approach, the students become more active to present their ideas, give some comments and questions.