Promotes the use of machine-scored tests in basic engineering science classes. Discusses some principles and practices of machine-scored testing. Provides several example test items. Argues that such tests can be used to enhance basic understanding of concepts and problem solving skills. (TW)

Describes the novice-to-expert model of human learning and compares it to the recent advances in the areas of artificial intelligence and expert systems. Discusses some of the characteristics of experts, proposing connections between them with expert systems and theories of left-right brain functions. (TW)

This document reports on a study of two approaches to an analytical chemistry course: (1) a structured active learning approach; and (2) a step-by-step lecture style problem solving approach. The purpose of the study was to assess and compare the outcomes of these approaches. The data consisted of open-ended interviews with students, open-ended…

This paper describes a program sponsored by Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering for high school science and mathematics teachers that includes an intensive summer workshop, post-workshop consultation and communication with the Thayer School staff and other past participants, and materials development. The program offers teachers a framework…

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) has developed a new freshman course titled "Computer Analysis in Civil Engineering" as part of a curriculum revision project which emphasizes critical thinking, cooperative group learning and problem solving, the integration of knowledge through projects, and student responsibility for…

This syllabus, which replaces the New York State Education Department publication "Mechanical Drawing and Design," is intended for use in teaching a high school course in design and drawing for production. The materials included in the guide reflect a shift away from the conventional methods of teaching design and drawing to a greater…

This USMES unit challenges students to find a way to design or make changes in things that they use or wear so that there will be a good fit. The teacher resource book for the Designing For Human Proportions unit contains five sections. The first section describes the USMES approach to student-initiated investigations of real problems, including a…

This final report summarizes research findings and presents a model for generative computer assisted instruction (CAI) with respect to its usefulness in the classroom environment. Methods used to individualize instruction, and the evolution of a procedure used to select a concept for presentation to a student with the generative CAI system are…

Discusses some of the concepts that are central to the courses offered by the Department of Technology and Society at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Emphasizes the integration of technology concepts into courses dealing with problem solving, space technology, military technology and environmental studies. (TW)

This project was designed to develop a curricular and pedagogical model for teaching multidisciplinary engineering design to senior-level undergraduate students at the Colorado School of Mines. The two-semester course sequence involved students from seven engineering disciplines working in multidisciplinary teams under the direction of…

Describes a sequence of five experimental courses in chemical engineering that are designed to meet the needs of students with various learning styles. The courses use a variety of teaching methods and are designed to develop and enhance creative problem-solving. (DDR)

Differentiates between learning efficiency (enhancing the rate of learning) and learning effectiveness (enhancing the mastery and retention of facts, concepts, and relationships). Discusses some of the contributions of knowledge engineering to metalearning. Provides a concept map for constructing knowledge bases, along with some possible…

A course in scientific English for science researchers and advanced civil engineering students in Belgium has a central problem--the heterogeneous nature of the group and lack of common research experience around which to build a curriculum. An attempt to overcome this difficulty by using two logical problems for discussion is presented. (MSE)

In an integrated four-course sequence, Colorado School of Mines engineering and science students work on open-ended, real-world problems prepared by government agencies and private companies that interact as clients with student teams. The program fosters intellectual development, teamwork, and communication skills. (Author/MSE)

Throughout history, people have moved themselves and cargo across water in boats and other types of vessels. Most vessels are developed using a technological design process, which typically involves problem solving and a series of steps. The designer documents each step to provide an accurate record of accomplishments and information to guide…