Case Study of PBL Seminar Class Applying Small Team-Based Competition Approach in Kushiro National College of Technology

This paper describes the PBL (Project-Based Learning) method which is applied to the seminar class at the Advanced Course of Electronic and Information Systems Engineering in Kushiro National College of Technology. The PBL method is an educational technique used for students to develop problem-solving skills through a self-directed learning process, in which students are responsible to identify problems and explore possible solutions. A small team-based competition approach which is applied by companies in developing trial product is employed in the seminar, aiming at developing students′ problem-solving skills. Subjects which contain two solutions or more are applied for the seminar class. During the problem-solving process, the students are also expected to learn the practical knowledge and skills.