Effective Integration of Mechatronics into the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum: A Cooperative, Project-Based Learning Model with Seamless Lab/Lecture Implementation

摘要

In today's competitive markets, engineers face ongoing challenges to produce complex engineering systems with a high level of performance, reliability, value and price. This requires the integration of a number of technologies, which may be accomplished through mechatronics. This paper presents a model for integrating mechatronics education into the Mechanical Engineering curriculum at the American University of Beirut (AUB). A strong component of the model is collaborative, project-based, learning-by-doing experience in which students realize mechatronics devices, possibly of their own choosing, using various laboratory tools including microcontroller technologies. The implementation strategy involves minimal lecturing, a seamless lab/lecture interface, and just-in-time learning. An example of a typical student's project is presented and course assessment is briefly discussed.