Problem-Based Learning and Industrial Engineering

Problem-based learning (PBL), also called inductive learning, is a well-known approach for teaching engineering courses. We undertake a study of concepts that can be taught via PBL, along with an analysis of courses and topics in the industrial engineering (IE) curriculum suitable for PBL. While in the traditional deductive style of teaching, one usually starts with explanation of principles followed by examples, PBL is primarily characterized by providing examples first and then generalizing to the underlying principles. A great deal of literature cites evidence of PBL being more effective than deductive learning. However, PBL also provides numerous challenges to the instructor - especially to those used to teaching deductively. Some of these challenges include taking a fresh look at how the same topics that were taught via deductive methods can potentially be taught using PBL, the tradeoff between the increased amount of time it consumes with the amount of material to be covered in the class, and ensuring that the student is not confused and does not walk away with an incorrect understanding of the topic. While PBL has been studied in the literature in the context of engineering in general, there is little by the way of how PBL can be used in IE courses. Hence, we first enumerate a number of topics from some IE courses that could potentially be taught with PBL. Then, we illustrate how PBL can be used in IE with two specific examples drawn from the following courses: Probability and Statistics and Discrete-Event Simulation. Finally, we present a discussion on IE topics/concepts that are perhaps unsuitable for the PBL style.