A Trial of PBL classes at UFPE

Engineers are required to have ability to learn science, ability to use science and ability to manage even such issues that can’t be solved only by science, that is, creativity. To cultivate such abilities of students, the traditional one-way education: a teacher gives knowledge to students, seems not to be enough. In an author’s experience in a private company, the most effective way for training a freshman into an engineer was OJT (on the Job training). The essence of OJT can be said “to let them work by themselves to complete their issues: sometimes difficult”. We introduced the essence of OJT into two classes at UFPE: “Design and Making of a Paper Glider” and “Design and Making of Something to Save an Egg”. As a result, we have found the trial was successful.