An Introductory Course in Electronic Engineering Using a Collaborative Problem Based Learning Approach in a Studio Environment

The City University of Hong Kong has been running a 3 year degree programme in mechatronic engineering since 1992 - the first in Asia. Over that time the content and presentation of the programme has changed to reflect the continuing evolution of the Pearl River delta and mainland China in particular. In 2002 a revised programme was introduced that resulted a substantially changed degree structure. One of the elements of this was the development of a new 'core' two-semester course in electronic engineering that was to be taken in the first year of the programme. This new course would be heavily problem-based learning in nature, with the use of small groups working in a collaborative manner. At the same time, it was decided to use the integrated teaching studio paradigm that had been successfully introduced some years previously. The new course combines simulation and practical laboratory around a number of problem-based learning objectives. This paper presents the results of the first year of implementation with reference to the new programme, as well as the resulting further development of the studio-based teaching techniques.