1 Introduction to Problem based Learning – The AAU Way A Course given by: Mona Dahms Department of development and planning Fibigerstraede 11, DK Aalborg East Phone: , Lars Peter Jensen Department of Control Engineering Fredrik Bajers Vej 7C, DK Aalborg East Phone: , URL: Both Associated Professors at Aalborg University

2 Introduction to Problem based Learning – The AAU Way Program for day two (27 th of august): 8.30 Role play of a supervising situation Lunch Supervision Courses Unanswered questions Until next time ? End of day two

Supervision3 Role-play Six role plays illustrate supervising situations (meetings) Imagine that your group is working on the project from yesterday The group members assign roles between themselves, so that the outlined situation in the role play occurs Each role play lasts approximately 15 minutes Each role play is commented by 4-5 observers

Supervision4 Lunch until 12.45

Supervision5 Forms of Supervision Process supervision Product supervision Control Supervision Laissez-faire Supervision

Supervision6 Forms of Supervision - 1 Process supervision: Sees the project as a cognitive process Facilitates co-operation in the group Starts reflexive processes Asks facilitating (reflexive) questions in stead of pointing out solutions

Supervision7 Forms of Supervision - 2 Product supervision: Focus on theoretical knowledge Focus on solutions, which are often given Project report must be coherent The product/construction (or part of) should be finished

Supervision8 Forms of Supervision - 3 Control Supervision: The group is tested Thinks on the exam The project period is one long exam Is interested in the knowledge of the individual student

Supervision9 Forms of Supervision - 4 Laissez-faire Supervision: The students are left to themselves Lack of engagement General and occasional comments Uses minimal time

Supervision10 Forms of groups - 1

Supervision11 Forms of groups - 2

Supervision12 Characteristics for a well functioning group: Common goal or objectives Agreement about group norms, rules The members ”play” all the necessary roles All group members respect each other

Supervision13 Co-operation: group classification IntegratedInstrumentalHierarchicChaotic Role castingAllSome No Work sharingAllSome No Control/LeadershipAllYesFewNo PowerEqualEqual ?UnequalNo Personal EngagementHighFairDifferentLow Group identityHighLow Conflict solvingYesNo

Supervision14 What might go wrong in the co-operation between supervisor and group ?

Supervision15 Different expectations Students expectations Study guide objectives Supervisors expectations Project and documentation

Supervision16 Students’ opinions on supervision Good Supervision: Overview in chaos Cut through in critical situations Solutions are not presented by the supervisor Ask facilitating questions The project is not controlled by the supervisor but by the group itself Supervisor is well prepared and well informed

Supervision17 Students’ opinions on supervision Poor Supervision: Supervisor does not express opinions about affective questions Supervisor does not give constructive feed back/criticism Lack of interest in the project and/or the students The supervisor has poor knowledge about the students’ work and work process Supervisor takes ownership of the project and controls the students’ learning process

Supervision18 Roles of the supervisor – good or poor ? The group member – discipline oriented supervision with focus on product –Takes over responsibility for the project work –Very active in choice of theory and methods –Gives answers in stead of asking questions The visitor – both discipline and problem oriented supervision with focus on process –Stands on the sideline, ready to kick or withdraw –Points out directions where to seek answers –The students own the project The consultant – discipline or problem oriented laissez-fair supervision –Only activated on request –Only answers the questions asked –leave all decisions, planning and control to the group

Supervision19 Tasks of a supervisor Before the semester start: –Prepare project proposals –Plan project courses In the beginning of a project: –Help to find appropriate literature –Help to establish contacts with companies etc. –Discuss the potential of the project proposal with students During the whole project period: –Give comments to both oral and written presentations/memos/working papers –Monitor the progress and professional level of group and individual students At the end: –Prepare for the examination –Chair the examination

Supervision20 Tools for supervision Learning objectives (Bloom’s taxonomy)

Supervision21 Bloom’s taxonomy for the cognitive domain A hierarchy with 6 levels: 1.Knowledge (memorize) 2.Comprehension (translate, interpret) 3.Application (use in new situations) 4.Analysis (uncover relations between entities) 5.Synthesis (building something new of the entities) 6.Evaluation (judging) More info:

Supervision22 Tools for supervision Learning objectives (Bloom) Contracts

Supervision23 Contracts What? Contract with supervisor Group contracts Why ? Create common expectations Secure clear agreements

Supervision24 Contracts How? Content could be: Meetings (where, when, how often, how long, agenda, chair etc.) Communication (how, how often, how quick, topics etc.) Feedback (response to working papers, response to process) Objectives (students’, supervisor’s, study regulation objectives) External contacts Any other items

Supervision25 Contract – an example DRAFT Contract between project group XX and supervisor NN What I am willing to do (if you want me to) –Help… Meet… Discuss…. Read…. What I prefer not to do –Meet…. Read…. What I expect of you –write a memo, send the memo, chair meetings etc.

Supervision26 Group contract – an example

Supervision27 Tools for supervision Learning objectives (Bloom) Contracts Students’ peer assessment

Supervision28 Students’ peer assessment Students in the same group reviewing each other’s written material Students in the same group giving mini- lectures for each other Two groups acting as opponents for each other at seminars and exams

Supervision29 Tools for supervision Learning objectives (Bloom) Contracts Students’ peer assessment Process analysis

Supervision30 Process analysis - content

Supervision31 Process analysis – example

Supervision32 Tools for supervision Learning objectives (Bloom) Contracts Students’ peer assessment Process analysis Facilitation

Supervision33 Facilitation summarizing mirroring asking open-ended questions use why, how, what, where (6-W) dynamic list of question feedback as rethinking aloud

Supervision34 Tools for supervision Learning objectives (Bloom) Contracts Students’ peer assessment Process analysis Facilitation Questioning the team work

Supervision35 Questioning team work - 1 Put on the students’ agenda when starting the project: level of ambitions how to share the work meeting discipline how to solve conflicts social relations

Supervision36 Questioning team work - 2 ask to the way the students organize the work and discuss the working process ask to special project functions discuss objectives for the organizational aspects give individual consultations feel the atmosphere - be present let the students discuss try to involve all the students

Supervision37 Project supervision - preparation The group (two days in advance) : What have we accomplished (working papers) What are we doing right now Requested supervision Agenda The supervisor : Read the working papers Reflect upon and formulate questions to structure, form and content Prepare for input to requested supervision

Supervision38 Project supervision – meeting The group : Chairs the meeting Takes minutes Presents the points of the agenda All participate in discussions The supervisor : Facilitates the students’ own reflection by asking questions Involves all students in discussions Secure reflections on: –Contracts, working processes, progress, time schedule etc.

Supervision39 Project supervision – follow up The group : Sends minutes of the meeting to the supervisor Discusses and assesses the input from the supervisor Revises working papers, time schedule etc. The supervisor : Reads the minutes and replies Follows up on requested tasks

Courses40 Courses Description Course Description Optimal Control Theory Purpose: To give the students knowledge in optimal control and practical experience with optimal control strategies based on minimisation of a performance index. Contents: Dynamic programming LQ control Introduction of reference and disturbance conditions Introduction of integral conditions Use of observer, LQG control The position of closed loop poles Prerequisites: Analogue and Digital Control (FP6-4, PR6-1, PR6-2), Stochastic systems (FP6-3, FP8-5) Duration: 1 module Category: Project theme course (PE- course)

Courses41 Courses Description Placed in a timetable for the semester

Courses42

Courses43

Courses44 Courses Description Placed in a timetable for the semester Syllabus

Courses45 Courses Each lesson/lecture (Mini module): Duration 3 hours 45 minutes (½ day) 2 lectures app. 45 min each Exercises in groups, app. 2 hours –The lecturer is now instructor The purpose of the combination of lectures/exercises is to increase the comprehension of the curriculum

Courses46 Courses What kind of exercises should you chose to promote comprehension and methodical ness ? Good examples of the central topics in the lecture, that forces the students to use the basic principles behind the theory How should you act as instructor during the exercises in the groups? Ask questions about how they have made their solution Make sure that they have understood the basic principles of the problems

Courses47 Courses Differences between project course (PE) and study course (SE) Examination –PE has no formal examination by the lecturer, it is examined during the project examination by the supervisor –SE is examined by the lecturer, normally as a written examination (passed/non passed) Exercises –PE is used in the project, exercises is examples –In SE the student must learn to solve examination exercises

48 Assessment of course This was good/usefull: 1.Bdkabdjgme _______________ 2.Jhfsohfhfjlfjfj _______________ 3.Bfhfhajjjljhhk _______________ This needs to be improved or could be left out: 1.Bfkbfkhnfnlk _______________ 2.Bvjsfghfglnlh _______________ 3.Gbehfhthkjkj _______________