Project-Based Learning of Environmental Engineering: A Case Study

M. A. Karim

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Conference: 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Seattle, Washington
Publication Date: June 14, 2015
Start Date: June 14, 2015
End Date: June 17, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-692-50180-1
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Civil Engineering Division Technical Session 6
Tagged Division: Civil Engineering
Page Count: 12
Page Numbers: 26.1270.1 - 26.1270.12
DOI: 10.18260/p.24607
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/24607
Download Count: 1136

Paper Authors

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M. A. Karim Kennesaw State University orcid.org/0000-0001-9663-4443

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M. A. Karim had his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 1989 and 1992, respectively. He spent about six years as a full-time faculty at BUET. He came to USA in 1995 and finished his Ph.D. in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Cleveland State University, Ohio in 2000. He worked about three years for ALLTEL Information Services in Twinsburg, Ohio as an Applications Programmer. Then he worked about eight years (in two different times) for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) as a Senior Environmental Engineer (Solid Waste Permit Writer) and taught at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) as an Affiliate Professor before he went to Trine University in January 2008, as a full-time Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering. He taught part-time at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) while employed at Trine University. During his time at Trine University, he taught a course for VCU on-line using Wimba class room. He also taught at Stratford University, Richmond, Virginia campus as an adjunct faculty while working for VDEQ. Since Fall of 2011, he has been working for Kenensaw State University, Marietta Campus, Georgia as a full-time faculty in Civil and Construction Engineering (Since January 2015, it is Kennesaw State University). He is a registered professional engineer for the State of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He has more than twelve journal and proceeding publications and three professional reports in the area of soil and sediment remediation, environmental management, and statistical hydrology. He is a member of ASCE and ASEE.

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Abstract

Project Based Learning of Environmental Engineering: A Case StudyAbstractProject-based learning is a comprehensive approach to classroom teaching and learning that isdesigned to engage students in investigations of authentic problems. This paper presentsperceptions and attitudes of students that have participated in a Project-Based Learning (PBL)course in environmental engineering. The course, `Environmental Engineering II', was developedand taught using PBL. In this course, 3- or 4-member teams of students carried out two projectsthat required data collection, literature review, design, and preparation of professional reports.The two projects comprised 50% of the final grade. At the end of the semester, a survey wasconducted with seven questions to compare the students’ learning in the environmentalengineering design course, with lecture, exams, and project reports/case studies, with thetraditional lecture-centric course. The qualitative paradigm was found to be suitable for studyingthe process undergone by the students, mainly because the study focused on the materials theylearned in a prerequisite course and how outcomes of the projects are used in our daily lives.Required data was collected by means of literature review, laboratory experiments, and fieldvisits. Students’ perceptions about PBL appeared to be favorable and acceptable as a learningenvironment for future environmental engineering design courses. Page 1 of 1

Citation
Format

Karim, M. A. (2015, June), Project-Based Learning of Environmental Engineering: A Case Study Paper presented at 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/p.24607