Teaching-learning methodology in engineering projects design

Taking as a starting point a methodology for teaching Project Formulation in Engineering Schools based on the solution of problem-projects, a teaching methodology using a virtual shared workspace has been designed and tested. The methodology here presented is based on cooperative learning and its aim is to help students that have to acquire not only a large amount of concepts but also individual and social cognitive skills in a short period of time (four months). Students must be capable of determining 'why' and 'for what purpose' before 'how' they work. Several virtual environments have been compared. Different parameters have been analysed in order to achieve the best results. The methodology developed has been proved to be useful. Students have valued it highly because individual and group work is facilitated and learning is improved. Moreover, the teaching of specific Project Formulation methodology is made easier. However, all these benefits also have a cost, which is the time devoted by teachers to supervise students during the development of the course.