Project based learning in Internet

Project based learning (PEL) is a well-established reality in engineering education. Internet technologies enhance traditional PEL by offering new resources, tools and services. They add, for instance, the possibility to define distributed projects, where project parts are developed by geographically distant persons or teams. The paper presents the characteristics and the results of NetPro, an EU-supported project that has created models, methods, tools and learning materials for network-based project learning (NPBL) in engineering education. The models applied are those of engineering work practice, adapted to an educational context. NetPro student teams may form cross-institutional learning communities that share and peer review project deliverables and interact in special interest group discussions. Running pilot projects tests NetPro methodologies and tools. The paper describes in some details the pilot supporting first year courses in the field of digital electronic design.