Dynamic problem-based learning

Tina Overton

University of Hull

Why dynamic problem-based learning?

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• Because real problems change and evolve.

• Because listening to or reading the same report over and over gets tedious!

What is it?

• Problem-based learning in which students can take different routes through a problem

• Problem-based learning in which the context of the problem changes

• Student choice

• Different data sets

• External changes

– Legislation, Budget, Staffing, Feedstocks

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Sustainable Futures

• Global sustainability focussing primarily on energy and waste management

• Choose scenario, select team from experts

• Energy needs, energy sources

• Waste production, recycling, reuse, etc

• Dynamic elements introduced throughout

– Economics, budgeting, legislation, ecology, geology, politics, staffing

• Poster, report, oral, portfolio, etc

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The brief

• A sustainable construction company, Global Sustainable, has approached you for assistance with one of its major contracts for this year. This will be their flagship project showing potential future customers how they incorporate green technology into their designs.

• You will advise on design, economics, technology , energy and waste management.

• You will put together a specialist team of scientists, politicians, engineers and green technology companies, who all have different skills and knowledge .

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Site 1 Near the Physt River, Sekiu Chamber Washington, United States of America Your Task:

Design a microgeneration sustainablevillage to house a population 480,implementing technology that wouldreduce the impact on the local ecosystem.

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Site 2 Postgraduate Campus in Hong Kong. Your Task:To develop a self sustaining postgraduate school in Hong Kong where all energy has to be producedon site and all waste processed. The school will provide education forat least 50 students and research facilities for 22 research scientists.

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Site 3 Green Transport

 Your Task:

To analyse the costs of producing biodiesel and bioethanol to be used in Midsummer’s small fleet of 42 buses. Decide which biofuel is more productive and suitable to the company. Price up the cost of reactants, plant and benefits of waste management.

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Site 4 Greening Midsummer University

Your Task:To develop a strategy for Midsummer University which has ambitions to be the greenest UK university. The chemistry department has beenidentified as having the highest water use.The accommodation department was identified as having the largest bill for electricity

consumption.

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MIDSUMMER

Building a team

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Agricultural engineer and Fuel Pioneer: Professor Corn

Chief researcher into Biodiesel at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Midsummer University which is recognised as at the forefront of developing sustainable technologies for both industrial and personal applications.

He focuses on the production and uses of biodiesel from both new and used oil sources including the production of a large biodiesel pilot plant at the University.

http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2011/ee/c0ee00452a

External events

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EVENTCorn prices are beyond a joke

The corn crop across the US bread basket region has failed due to locust infestation, resulting in an increase in the price of corn of 20%.

If you chose Kapow then your crops are resistant to the infestation and result in only a 8% increase.

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EVENTSeismic activity at current location causes grave concerns to site.

Either stop the implementation of geothermal energy or add 2% to the cost of each building.

If you have Nas Abraham in you team then you can ignore this event.

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EVENTNew local resolution passed encouraging the use of the Sun.

You must use solar energy in some way as an alternative energy source within your project and it must account for at least 20% of your energy production.

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EVENTSPirates in the Indian Ocean are causing problems with supply routes.

To simulate the delay in resources and equipment everything from this point further costs 2% more.

If you have Sergeant Jones Ignore this event.

Data

• Costs of clearing, building, infrastructure, energy production

• Ecology

• Geological

• Energy consumption

• Carbon footprint

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Circular economy

• New industrial estate.

• First tenant is eg brewery, pigment manufacturer, wind turbine manufacturer.

• Identify other desirable tenants based on principles of circular economy.

• Demonstrate relationships and circular framework.

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Copy for trialling from t.l.overton@hull.ac.uk