Next Generation Engineering Education

The evolution of learning tools and techniques

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From creating new products to designing buildings, engineering plays a crucial role in our everyday lives. Knowledge of engineering fundamentals can provide a strong basis for almost any career path. One-third of the fifteen most valuable college majors are in engineering, including biomedical engineering (#1), software engineering (#4), environmental engineering (#5), civil engineering (#6), and petroleum engineering (#9), according to Forbes.com. The median salary for these five fields of engineering average at $103,360, which is more than double the average income of the population in the United States at $51,000. The growing demand and low supply of students holding degrees in these majors explain why their salary is so much higher compared to other careers.

Unfortunately, engineering education and training is not easily accessible to everyone. A study presented by Purdue University found that only twelve out of fifty states have a clearly defined engineering curriculum for K-12 students, and that only four of these states provide a “comprehensive” inclusion of engineering standards. Engineering education in grade school is virtually non-existent until the college level, which many educators believe is a little late into the game. The National Academy of Engineering further presents challenges in the field of engineering education that include misconceptions of girls and young women who too often do not view engineering as a probable career path. Below are some solutions that are currently being implemented and tested to improve the next generation of engineering education.

In brief:• Engineering education and training is virtually non-existent until the college level

• Misconceptions of girls and young women in the industry causes them to lose interest in engineering

• Educators believe that training in math, science, and engineering education should begin at an early age

• Learn about the current techniques being implemented to improve the next generation of engineering education

Purdue University Study: Only 12 out of 50 states have clearly definedengineering curriculum for K-12

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How can we improve the next generation of enginnering learning?

Middle and High School

Educators believe that training in math, science, and engineering education should begin at an early age. In 2013, the National Research Council of the National Academy of Science, comprised of 40 members from twenty-six states, developed the Next Generation Science Standards. The Next Generation Science Standards goal is to standardize and update science and engineering across all grades from K-12.

Educators also suggest including more hands-on learning opportunities like field trips and camps that focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Project Lead the Way offers K-12 students a comprehensive approach to STEM education through experiments and activities. Students have the opportunity to “apply what they know, identify problems, find unique solutions, and lead their own learning.” Being exposed to science, technology, engineering, and math at a young age and learning how it is relevant to their lives allows students to become excited about the field.

Purdue University Study: Only 12 out of 50 states have a clearly defined engineering curriculum for K-12

Case Study: Sleepy Hill Middle School29 8th Grade Students learn Computer-Aided Design

Technology and online resources are helping Middle School and High School educators teach highly technical subjects like Computer Aided Design (CAD). Sleepy Hill Middle School’s eighth grade Engineering class in Polk County, Florida used online learning resource SolidProfessor to provide their students with curriculum that taught them CAD and prepared them for the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) and Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP) exams. The CSWA and CSWP certifications acknowledge proficiency in SOLIDWORKS; having the designation distinguishes the user as having a deep understanding of the software. Sleepy Hill Middle School succeeded in having twenty-nine of their students pass the CSWA exam and one pass the CSWP exam- a remarkable achievement for the eighth grade class.

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Univerisites

How can education keep pace in colleges and universities to meet the standards of this quickly evolving field, while still keeping students engaged? One answer is the “flipped classroom” method. The flipped classroom model, where students view video lectures and complete hand-on exercises and quizzes as homework, allows educators to guide assignments, projects, and experiments during class time. In a traditional classroom, students often scramble to transcribe the professor’s words, often missing important points. Many instructors do not have the time to pause and answer questions because of the extensive content they have to cover in a short amount of class time. In a flipped classroom, students have the opportunity to go over lectures as many times as they need to and bring questions to class for discussion. This increases student engagement and opens the door for more opportunities for hands-on learning and active discussion in the classroom. The next generation of engineering education demands revolutionary changes to keep students engaged and on the right track.

John Larson from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) learned this firsthand when he implemented engaging learning tools in his class. “The biggest challenge we had faced is that my students weren’t reading the textbook. I conducted a survey in one of my classes and found that just 5% of my students were completing their assigned reading before class. Students these days are engaged with their phones and computers, they like playing to learn. It’s a behavior shift we have to account for and it’s something we’re taking very seriously in each department at Cal Poly. We want to provide our students with the most effective and engaging learning experience possible and the best way for us to do that is to understand how they learn best.” After implementing SolidProfessor, engagement increased dramatically in Larson’s class.

“Students these days are engaged with their phones and computers, they like playing to learn.”

-John Larson, Cal Poly

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The digital revolution in engineering education is making the field more accessible, engaging, and flexible. This evolution has helped educators rethink how they deliver their content and look toward the future to a classroom model that seamlessly integrates technology, mobile devices, and independent learning with face-to-face interaction and collaboration.

“Not all of my students learn well by reading a book, so the fact that they can watch and listen to a video lesson that

tells them exactily how to do it makes a huge impact in their learning experience.”

-Chris Malone, Paris Junior College

Community College & Junior College

For Community Colleges and Junior Colleges, it is even more important to make the most out of classroom time. Many students have full or part-time jobs, families, or other responsibilities outside of school. Chris Malone, Drafting and CAD Instructor at Paris Junior College believes that organization is the key. The new instructional content he implemented is “so well organized it makes a huge difference for my students. I’ve absolutely seen an increase in the quality of my students’ work. Their efficiency working with the software is about 200% better since we’ve implemented SolidProfessor.” Malone understands that each of his students learn in different ways. “Not all of my students learn well by reading a book, so the fact that they can watch and listen to a video lesson that tells them exactly how to do it makes a huge impact in their learning experience.”

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Sources:

Goudreau, Jenna. “The 15 Most Valuable College Majors.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 15 May 2012. Web. 20 May 2015.

Moore, Tamara. “Study: Most K-12 Schools Lack Engineering-centered Education.” Purdue News. Purdue University, 09 Apr. 2015. Web. 20 May 2015.

“Our Programs.” PLTW. Project Lead The Way, Inc., n.d. Web. 20 May 2015.

Spencer, David B., and George Mehler. “Summer Issue of The Bridge on Undergraduate Engineering Education.” National Academy of Engineering Of The National Academies. National Academy of Sciences on Behalf of the National Academy of Engineering, 2013. Web. 20 May 2015.

“The Next Generation Science Standards.” The Next Generation Science Standards. Next Generation Science Standards, n.d. Web. 20 May 2015.

“Things You Should Know About…™ Flipped Classroom.” EDUCAUSE, n.d. Web. 20 May 2015.

Next Generation Engineering Education

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