Application of design-based learning and outcome-based education in basic industrial engineering teaching: A new teaching method

This paper provides and illustrates a design-based learning (DBL) and outcome-based education (OBE) approach for fostering the innovation, practice, and autonomous learning ability of industrial engineering students. We performed two studies with on industrial engineering students in typical educational activities. The first study used a topic of “sheet metal parts turnover protection optimization” to explore the application effect of “DBL + OBE” and its shortcomings in the implementation process, so as to help students understand this new teaching method. Then, in order to verify the use effect of “DBL + OBE”, the second study used the topic of “production line balance” to divide the students into an experimental class and a control class. The experimental class adopted the design learning teaching method, while the control class adopted the traditional teaching method. In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, students and teachers were interviewed. It was found that the students in the experimental class were more outstanding in personal abilities, such as systematic thinking, independent innovation ability, etc. The results show that: the rational use of design-based learning and outcome-based education concept can stimulate students’ interest in learning, cultivate students’ team spirit, improve students’ innovation ability, practical ability and problem solving ability, and cultivate “innovative talents” needed in the new era.