Review of project based learning application in mechanical engineering education

Creating a motivating and simulating learning environment is the goal of every lecturer. Among various teaching forms and assessment types possible, projects are one form that allows connection between theoretical, technical and practical knowledge and due to that it can be (and it is) successfully applied in engineering education. Introduction of project based learning is also an opportunity for the lecturer to supply a lot of formative feedback to students and encourage them to succeed and meet learning outcomes, manage their time and learn how to work in teams. In this paper the review of teaching methods is presented with attention given to project based teaching. This approach is analyzed on two examples: goals, advantages and disadvantages of introduction of projects type teaching in first year of mechanical engineering undergraduate study (Dynamics) and in the first year of production technologies stream graduate study in Casting unit.