When engineering students are unable to evaluate the validity of their solutions, they are unprepared to solve complex, real-world engineering problems that require decomposition or knowledge transfer. A proper framework is key to successful implementation and can encourage more institutions to adopt problem-solving engineering labs. This paper…

Motivated by the benefits of repeated deliberate practice, we created an interactive exercise system for use in an undergraduate engineering mechanics class that focuses on practicing learned fundamental concepts. These exercises take the form of traditional word problems commonly found in mechanics courses, involving things like selecting and…

Addressing complex global sustainability challenges requires a creative mindset, yet current engineering curriculum does not facilitate development of student creativity. Design thinking, as defined by the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford, is a human-centered, creative design methodology that can be used to foster cognitive aspects…

To address global challenges such as climate change, we must prepare an engineering workforce of sustainability-minded engineers ready to tackle complex socio-technical problems with multiple stakeholders. Frameworks like the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have begun to drive structural changes in engineering education,…

More than a half century has passed since the first integration of problem-based learning (PBL) in higher education teaching. Despite the extensive investigation focused on this pedagogy, rigorous research on the impact of PBL in civil engineering is limited. Thus, this study aims to provide a thorough evaluation of students' perceptions of PBL in…

Students should be exposed to open-ended, complex design challenges during their courses to better prepare the students for the design challenges that they will encounter during their careers. This preparation may be achieved by combining flipped classroom instruction, case based learning in an active classroom, and authentic assessments. Between…