At National Fisheries University, Japan, lessons using problem-based learning (PBL), or project-based learning, were newly designed to develop engineering design abilities in students. This curriculum development was a part of the introduction of active learning into higher education. Rubric assessment was also introduced for evaluating the learning outcome of PBL. Thus, based on the results of the questionnaire survey administered to the students and the rubric assessment used to evaluate the learning outcome, the effectiveness of the sheets used for rubric assessment was also analyzed in this study. An analysis of the rubric assessment that was used in PBL classes revealed that the students’ self-evaluations generally correlated with teachers’ individual evaluations and team members’ evaluations. Furthermore, it is now possible to effectively evaluate the students who were actively engaged in learning. Therefore, it can be concluded that this new curriculum might contribute toward nurturing engineering design abilities in students.
Active learning
PBL (Problem-Based Learning, Project-Based Learning)
Rubric assessment
Engineering design
Higher education