Abstract:

The lack of practical know-how and practically useful skills for graduates is a serious problem for a large number of technical universities around the world. This is why innovation in education is being implemented at the University of West Bohemia (UWB) at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FME) in the Department of Machine Design (DMD) to reduce this problem among our graduates. The goal of this innovation is to broaden the practical knowledge of our students via practical projects that are focused on the types of real problems that graduates will have to deal with in their future careers. For this purpose several projects dealing with real machines, tools and equipment have been created. All of these projects are solved by groups of students over one semester. These educational projects are described in this paper using the reconstruction of a small manual lathe into a computer controlled lathe as a sample project. All the steps of the project, from 3-D CAD (computer aided design) model to the final reconstruction of the machine are described. The main tool used for this type of education is called Project-Based Learning (PBL), which empowers the learning of students and makes education more interesting. Students drive their own learning through inquiry, as well as work collaboratively to research and create projects that reflect their knowledge [1]. During the solution of these projects students gain practical skills that help them to solve problems that they may face in their future technical careers.

References:
[1] S. Bell, "Project-Based Learning for the 21st Century: Skills for the Future", The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, vol. 83, no. 2, pp. 39-43, 2010.

Keywords:

Innovation, technical education, educational projects, project-based learning, practical know-how.