Groundwater in action: Real-world problem-centered approach with students’ collaborative projects

This project proposes restructuring a master-level groundwater course to integrate practical, real-world problem-solving and enhance technical skills. The current traditional lecture format focuses heavily on theory, leading to passive learning, disengagement, limited critical thinking, lack of collaboration, and inadequate preparation for modern computational demands.

To address these issues, we will adopt a problem-based learning approach centered on a real-life groundwater case study. This method will promote active learning, critical thinking, and teamwork by allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. Group projects will foster collaboration and develop interpersonal skills essential for professional success.

The new course structure involves transitioning from proprietary groundwater modeling software to an open-source Python-based model delivered through Jupyter notebooks which will be integrated into Moodle. This shift will improve accessibility, develop students› scripting abilities, and promote reproducible workflows, enhancing industry standards with the latest innovation.

Expected outcomes include increased student engagement, enhanced technical and soft skills, and better preparation for professional careers. By modernizing the course with innovative teaching methods and tools, we aim to create a dynamic learning environment that equips students with the competencies required in today’s groundwater modeling field.

The primary goal of this project is to transform the master-level groundwater course into an engaging, application-oriented program that enhances students› practical skills, critical thinking, and readiness for modern computational demands in the groundwater modeling field. To achieve this, we will focus on several key outputs:
Firstly, we will develop real-world, problem-based teaching materials by creating new modules that focus on actual groundwater challenges. This will enhance students› Python scripting, computational thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Secondly, we aim to disseminate open-source educational resources that promote reproducibility and accessibility, allowing other departments and institutions to adopt and adapt the materials.
Thirdly, we will integrate active learning and collaborative strategies such as group projects and peer review to encourage student collaboration and deeper engagement with the material, promoting teamwork, communication, and peer-led learning. Fourthly, we intend to enhance data literacy and analysis skills by incorporating real-world groundwater datasets into exercises, teaching students how to clean, analyze, and visualize data, thereby strengthening their data science skills alongside numerical modeling.
Lastly, we will develop professional and soft skills by focusing on building competencies like communication, project management, and presentation skills through assignments such as technical reports and presentations of model results. This comprehensive approach addresses student concerns about applying theory to practice and aims to create a dynamic learning environment that equips them with the practical and professional competencies required in today’s groundwater science industry.

Students: The project introduces a hands-on approach to groundwater modeling by replacing theoretical exercises with real-live, project-based learning experiences and proprietary software with open-source tools (Python, Jupyter Notebooks). This shift enhances students› problem-solving abilities and equips them with valuable scripting skills necessary for modern environmental modeling. The integration of real-world data, such as remote sensing and time series analysis, deepens students’ engagement and application of theoretical knowledge. Access to the exercises from anywhere allows flexibility and enables students to revisit material at their own pace, promoting independent learning. The use of reproducible workflows prepares students for professional and academic careers where transparency and collaboration are essential.

Faculty: For the faculty, the shift to open-source tools reduces the reliance on proprietary software, providing more control over the course design and enabling easier updates and modifications. The ability to document and share exercises under an open-source license fosters collaboration among faculty members, both within ETH and beyond. This encourages continuous improvement of the course material and cross-institutional sharing of best practices in teaching.

The Entire Degree Programme: This project will enrich the entire degree programme by embedding cutting-edge technologies and reproducible research practices into the curriculum. It modernizes how environmental and groundwater science is taught, creating a scalable and sustainable teaching model that can be adopted across other courses. The open-source, flexible nature of the exercises will ensure they remain relevant and adaptable to future advancements, maintaining ETH’s position at the forefront of environmental education.