Project Based Learning
On the 14th and 15th of July, subsequent presentation sessions related to the settlements of projects implemented as part of the 12th edition of the PBL competition took place. More than 50 teams which in the summer semester implemented Project Based Learning (PBL) projects under the Excellence Initiative – Research University program, presented their results to the evaluation board.
Project-Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching-learning approach based on implementing project work. It is a method of transferring knowledge and acquiring competences and qualifications by independent work of students in a predetermined time interval in order to solve a problem, i.e. the implementation of a project.
In addition to expanding knowledge, the PBL method helps students develop many of the soft skills needed in the 21st century at the next levels of education and professional careers, such as group work, synthesis of information from various sources, decision making and taking responsibility for it, planning and organizing work, and proper time management and meeting deadlines. This method also teaches the art of argumentation – formulating and expressing one’s opinions. It also shows how to prepare and deliver a presentation and, what is very important, build self-confidence.
Pursuant to §3(9) of the Ordinance No. 251/2024 of the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology of the 18th of December 2024 on the Rules of financing Project-oriented Education - PBL, within the framework of the Initiative of Excellence - Research University program, settlement of the project requires submission of a report, presentation of the project results on the Internet, on the University’s website. The results of the project should be presented to the evaluation board by students and at least one tutor.
The students had the opportunity to present the project within five minutes. On the 8th and then 14th and 15th of July, the Evaluation Board heard the authors of 54 projects. Some of them were presented online. There was also no shortage of foreign students.
- Evaluation Boards account for PBL projects implemented in the current semester of the academic year. Students and supervisors present the results of their work and share the competences they have acquired. We have a great pleasure to listen to what young people, together with their project leaders, have achieved in cooperation – often also internationally – says the Director of the Centre for Modern Education, Anna Waligóra - Dr in Social Sciences.
Students and supervisors presented the most important results, key achievements, characterized the acquired competences and shared the experience resulting from the implementation of PBL.
- We did research on our team drivers on how their body behaved during driving and what stressors affect people during simulated racing conditions, so we could later determine what happens to the driver while driving a real car, - said Szymon Stencel, responsible for student car development at SKN PolSl Racing, who presented the project together with Klaudia Kania from the University of Silesia, responsible for copywriting and conducting research on drivers in this team.
- This is an interdisciplinary project that combines both the topics of mechanics and the analysis of human behaviour during driving, i.e. cognitive science - explains Dr. Hab. Eng. Mirosław Szczepanik, Prof. SUT, scientific supervisor of SKN PolSl Racing.
Among the authors of the projects were Julia Pindur and Karolina Romberg, who participated in two PBL projects when they were still in secondary school. This form of learning convinced them to choose the Silesian University of Technology and already during the first semester of their studies, together with other members of the project team, they decided to implement another PBL project.
