A Project Based Approach for Teaching Product Development to Graduate Students

Project-based learning (PjBL) activities let students deal with authentic engineering problems where other abilities are trained instead of rote memorization or simple algorithmic substitution. In this paper, we propose a PjBL approach in a master degree of design and manufacturing where the students have to develop a lighting product from the conceptual design to the manufacturing and promotion of the product, finishing with a physical prototype made by 3D printing. The goal of the paper is to analyze the benefits of conducting a PjBL approach within a group of subjects that can be coordinated under the same project and where the students can put into practice the fundamentals of each subject for the physical realization of a real product. The paper describes the evolution of the PjBL experience throughout four years, the improvements and changes made according to students' and instructors' perceptions. As a result of the improvement of the project along the 4 year experience, the student's performance and the student's satisfaction related to the project increased from 7.2 to 8.9 out of 10 and from 3.7 to 4.8 out of 5, respectively. The motivation and engagement of the students were also improved according to the quality and dedication of the resulting products manufactured by the students.