Teaching creativity in design through project-based learning in a collaborative distributed educational setting

Abstract

This chapter presents the challenge of teaching creativity in design through project-based learning (PBL) in a collaborated distributed educational setting. First, PBL engineering class examples regarding computer-aided design for a toy modeling and original design/modeling for a remote controlled robot are presented, as a starting point of this challenge, from two different institutions, or the University of Tokushima in Japan and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA. After reviewing these classes, several critical elements are identified for the success of these classes. Considering these elements, PBL provides not only an effective approach for teaching creativity in education in a university setting, but also could be applied more generally in a global setting. The second part of this chapter presents the challenge of teaching creativity in a global project using the web-based design and manufacturing of a dental milling machine, followed by a dental headrest project by the process of expectation management. Reviewing the critical roles of conventional learning management systems in these PBL classes and the current trends of cloud computing, this chapter shows the potential of cloud-based design and manufacturing to support creativity in design education.