A problem-based learning approach for green control and IT in a master program

Abstract

Students' interest for science and technology studies has been decreasing during the last decade, to the profit of careers with more social impact or economic benefit. While the economic aspect is related to industrial policies and out of reach for university curriculum designers, problem-based learning (PBL) can be a solution to renew the students' interest for science. This work presents an example of curriculum design at the master level where the theoretical classes of systems, control and information technologies (SCIT) are illustrated with PBL-oriented labs and projects related to a topic with high social impact: environmental sustainability. The focus of the paper is on practice and experience sharing; the general approach to motivate the need for SCIT in sustainable and green development is presented, along with some specific projects carried in the master program. The perspective of relying on Web 2.0 tools to improve communication and collaboration in the PBL framework is also discussed. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.