A Student’s Perspective on the Progression of a Problem-Based Learning Module for Final Year Aerospace Students

This paper describes the development and continuous improvement of Flight Handling Qualities (FHQ) from a student’s perspective. FHQ is a Problem-Based-Learning (PBL) core module for 4th year Aerospace Engineering Master of Engineering (MEng) undergraduates at the University of Liverpool (UoL). The module is now in its fourth year of operation and has continually evolved to its present form with the aid of feedback from the participating students and others experienced with PBL activities. The authors of this paper have all graduated from the UoL MEng Aerospace Engineering programme and have completed the FHQ module through each of the three previous years of the course’s evolution. Consequently, the authors can offer a unique first-hand perspective of their experiences and the progression and development of the CDIO module. In addition, one of the authors now acts as an FHQ group mentor and can offer an interesting insight into the  module’s current form. The aim of the module is to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to tackle aircraft handling qualities (HQs) and related ‘whole aircraft’ problems. The students are presented with the theory of handling qualities engineering in a series of interactive lectures and work in teams of 4 or 5 to undertake a number of team-building exercises throughout the first semester. The teams are presented with the idea that the aircraft, with its handling qualities deficiencies, is the focus for knowledge acquisition and skills development. Each team is given the task of assessing and quantifying the HQs of a particular aircraft in a particular role, and then developing fixes to any handling deficiencies identified. Significant changes in the evolution of the module include; an increase in the duration of the module and the introduction of group mentors who provide additional support and guidance to the students. The contents of the paper will consist of a detailed description of the module and intends to give a unique student perspective on the experiences gained and continuous improvement of an established CDIO module.

2nd International CDIO Conference, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden, 13 – 14 June 2006