PBL and B-learning in Transportation Education

The results of the application of a pedagogical strategy implemented at the University of Sao Paulo-Sao Carlos are presented and discussed in this work. The initiative was conducted in a transportation planning course offered to civil engineering students. The new approach is a combination of PBL (which in that case stands not only for Problem-Based Learning, but also for Project-Based Learning) and blended-learning. Distinct problems were considered in the period in which the method was applied (from 2006 to 2009), as follows: parking problems within the campus in 2006, general transport and mobility issues in the city in 2007, and mobility troubles for pedestrians in 2008. In 2009, the PBL concept was expanded to Project-Based instead of just Problem-Based Learning. The aim of the change was to allow the application of the theoretical concepts in a project for solving a real-world transportation problem. The performance of the students along the four years was analyzed through the grades they received in the course activities. We also analyzed the answers they provided in a questionnaire specifically designed for the course assessment. Both analyses provided important elements for the improvement of the pedagogical approach. Also, the results of the experience with the four classes showed positive aspects of the method, such as a strong involvement of several students with the subject, in addition to a very mature and professional attitude when dealing with the proposed problems. That already resulted in a growing interest in the field of transportation engineering for further studies.