A multidisciplinary problem-based learning approach to student recruitment in IT and engineering

An initiative to increase the enrolment numbers and quality of students in tertiary IT and engineering education in North Queensland is described. The approach involves using robotics to promote the study of a multidisciplinary range of maths, science, IT and manual arts subjects in high school and hence increase the number of high school graduates eligible for entry into IT and engineering courses at university level. The approach is novel in that it promotes these subjects as complementary and encourages students to see them as a complete unit rather than diverse topics. This concept is reinforced by integrating a single mobile robot into all subjects and levels, and having students consider how each subject contributes to the robot design and operation. A custom open source mobile robot and control software has been developed to support the approach. Current trials using this approach within the local high school system suggest this is a valuable tool for equipping students with the knowledge to make informed decisions about subject and career choices