Teaching logistics without formal classes : a case study

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2003

Authors

Maria Antónia Carravilla (Author) FEUP; José Fernando Oliveira (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: Global engineer: education and training for mobility

Pages: 270-276

31st SEFI Conference (SEFI 2003)

Porto, Portugal, 7 a 10 de setembro de 2003

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Social sciences > Economics > Management studies > Production management ; Social sciences > Educational sciences > Teaching methods

Other information

Abstract (EN): In this paper we will present a case study concerning the teaching of Logistics in the Computers and Electrical Engineering degree at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto. This is an optional course, taken in the last semester. During the course there are no formal classes, that is, no lectures with the teacher presenting the subjects covered by the course. All the learning strategy is based upon the autonomous learning capacity, which of course is improved during the course. The students are organised in groups and their autonomous work is motivated by presentations that each group has to give each other week. After each presentation a discussion period is opened, which can be used by the teachers, not only to evaluate the involvement of each member of the group in the work, but also, interactively with the students, to complement the presentation when there are some relevant issues that were not mentioned. Each group has a leader, which changes every presentation, who is responsible for the group management and tasks distribution. It is also the leader that will give the presentation. All the students have the opportunity to act as leaders. In the weeks in which there are no presentations, a leaders meeting with the teachers happens, where they explain how the work is being organised and what each group is planning to speak about. During these meetings the teachers have the opportunity to introduce corrections in the groups and leaders strategy and plans. Assessment is based on: the formal quality of the presentation, either in what concerns the materials and the speaker's performance; the technical correctness and completeness in the way subjects are treated; leadership capacity. While the teachers evaluate the two first issues, peers evaluate leadership. Final results concerning the course evaluation by the students and the final student's marks will be presented.

Language: Portuguese

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7