A problem based learning approach to teaching environmental geotechnics

This paper shows how Problem Based Learning is used to teach the environmental geotechnics subject at Monash University. Problem Based Learning is an effective means for changing bottom up teaching normally used in engineering courses into a top-down approach where the application defines the scope of the course, and the student sees the problem iri its context. In such an approach, theory and principles are only introduced insofar as they are necessary for the resolution of the problem. Students develop their expertise through a succession of increasingly more complex problems.