Observations made in previous semesters at the University of Applied Sciences Ravensburg-Weingarten have shown, that students in the first semesters face major challenges especially in engineering and natural sciences. Quite a few of them fail. Field studies have pointed out two essential indicators. On the one hand, abstract fundamentals cause understanding difficulties and on the other hand, students hardly see links between courses and their later occupational field, which significantly reduces the motivation for self-directed learning. The central objective of the research project "skill development in undergraduate engineering courses by an interdisciplinary lead example" is the enhancement of reflective, practical and problembased learning. Through a lead example chosen according to didactic principles and a continuous alternation between teaching of abstract basic knowledge and problem-based learning, a gradual improving of the student’s capacity of abstraction as well as a rising of the motivation to deal more selfdirected with new teaching content is to be achieved.

Published in: Canada International Conference on Education, 2018

• Date of Conference: 25-28 June, 2018
• DOI: 10.2053/CICE.2018.0086
• Electronic ISBN: 978-1-908320-90-2
• Conference Location: University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada