Comparing a Modified Problem-Based Learning Approach to a Traditional Approach to Teaching Heat Transfer

Experience has convinced me that traditional lectures are easy for the professor, but are not always the best educational approach for the majority of my students. Over the years I have tried to incorporate more active approaches in the classroom. I incorporated many active learning activities and added technology-driven modifications to my courses. More recently I tried adding problem-based learning (PBL) to my classes. I found that light use of a modified form of PBL along with a variety of other active learning elements have improved the level of student involvement, classroom morale, and, ultimately, the learning that occurred in my classes