Project-based learning in engineering design in Bulgaria: expectations,experiments and results

Using a students’ workshop as a laboratory, this article summarises the observation of three years’ implementation of a new study module for a Bachelor Program in Engineering Design (Interior and Furniture Design) at the University of Forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria. The article offers an analysis of group dynamics and the difficulties and issues observed during the process. Data from survey questionnaires are interpreted; proposals are made for future research. The conclusion of the authors includes the following points: positive response by students, important encounter with successful professionals and companies; creative fulfilment and experience of team work. On the weak side is the experienced discomfort in public presentation, lack of verbal and graphic skills, interpersonal issues and pressure of real requirements from teachers and company; lack of adequate attention by the tutors. The need of better understanding a team ‘code’ of behaviour and preparation for an active learning method was felt. A proposal leading to a mixed-team organisation for better support of first-time participants in the module is made.     

Motivbasierte Passung von Sportprogrammen

Regarding the phenomenon of mood improvements through physical exercise, secondary analyses indicate that improvements can hardly be generalised. Rather, personal and situational factors need to be taken into consideration in order to define the effects in a more precise manner. This contribution investigates to what extent explicit motives and goals of individuals in middle adulthood can be considered as personal moderators of mood changes. Five exercise programmes were developed in a quasi-experimental design and were conducted over a 3-month intervention period. These programmes were based on the “motive-based types of sportsperson” (Sudeck, Lehnert & Conzelmann, 2011), which define groups of individuals with similar motive and goal profiles. One hundred and thirty-three individuals participated in either a programme tailor-made to their motive and goal profile or in a non-tailored programme. The influence of this motive-based tailoring was investigated based on the mood dimensions of valence, calmness and positive activation using handheld PCs during and after exercise sessions. Results indicate a moderating influence of explicit motives and goals. This moderation was however not a general one but rather depended on the exercise programmes’ specific goals and content as well as on individuals’ goals regarding recreation. These findings point towards a systematic consideration of explicit motives and goals in the planning of health and leisure sport programmes.