Two McMaster University (Canada) chemical engineering courses enrolling 30-50 students incorporate problem-based learning (PBL). Issues addressed in implementation included overcoming faculty and student resistance, integrating PBL methods within a predominantly conventional curriculum, developing PBL problems and objectives, and using tutorless…

The purpose of this study was to describe a process of preparing technology education teachers to teach engineering design concepts in the context of technology education. This process was identified through a study of professional development activities that were organized and conducted by technology teacher education partner universities of the…

This present study investigated engineering students' conceptions and misconceptions related to derivative, particularly interpreting the graph of a function and constructing its derivative graph. Participants were 147 first year engineering students from four universities enrolled in first year undergraduate calculus courses with or without the…

The question addressed here is how to integrate computational tools, namely interactive general-purpose platforms, in the teaching of process units. Mathematica has been selected as a complementary tool to teach distillation processes, with the main objective of leading students to achieve a better understanding of the physical phenomena involved…

Recent years have seen widespread adoption of automatic grading of physics homework problems. Although first-generation homework management systems provide feedback and assign scores based only on the answers, problem-solving performance on exams seems to be no worse for students using these systems than for those who receive detailed comments…

It is felt that an important source of information in engineering education is ofte n overlooked - the differential impact of the learning process on each student. Currently, the only measure of this sort is the final grade. This research involved (1) developing techniques for assessing various aspects of a student's class performance, and (2)…

This introductory activity explores the advantages of different roof shapes for different climates or situations. It addresses questions such as "When you walk or drive around your neighborhood, what do the roofs look like?" and "What if you lived in an area with a different climate, how would that affect the style of roof that you might find?"…

This study investigated whether it was more beneficial to provide the learners in computer-based learning environments access to on demand (self-regulated) help after they committed an error in problem solving or for the learning environment to externally regulate the presentation of instructional help. Furthermore, two different resentational…

Points to need for engineers with broader educational backgrounds who can join other professionals to deal with modern social and environmental problems. Adapted from address delivered to Engineering College Administrative and Research Councils at 77th Annual ASEE Conference, June 24, 1969. (WM)

Describes a highly user-oriented conversational linear programing package for simulated laboratory experiences. The system allows easy problem entry, solution and changes, accepting free form statements of the problem and a few key words to describe each kind of input. (Author/TS)

Describes how guided design is applied to a freshman engineering course so that professional and social concerns are integrated into a problem-solving approach. (PR)

Describes a course at the University of Alabama for non-engineers. The course emphasizes interrelationships and differences between engineering and science and the role of engineering in solving society's problems from ancient times to the present day. (Author/TS)

Defends the role of humanities instruction in the education of engineering undergraduates in the areas of problem solving, risk taking, and the synthesis of metaphors and symbols. (AEA)