ERIC Number: EJ1485384
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Apr
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0957 7572
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1804
Available Date: 2024-06-20
Engineering Requirements and Their Role in Engineering Undergraduates' Design Decision Making
Andrew Olewnik1; Vanessa Svihla2
International Journal of Technology and Design Education, v35 n2 p673-698 2025
Undergraduate engineering students are commonly introduced to design in their first year and tackle a more authentic design challenge during senior year, with intervening courses focused on technical problem solving. Along this trajectory, students should acquire skills related to the development of engineering requirements, which are important to the technical framing of design problems. Through the lens of framing agency, this mixed-methods study explores first-year and senior students' knowledge of engineering requirements as they engaged problems within their respective courses. Findings suggest that learning about requirements as a framing mechanism was not well-supported across the curriculum. Implications include a need to engage students in requirements development during the middle years and improve support for iterative framing and solving activities.
Descriptors: Engineering Education, College Freshmen, College Seniors, Knowledge Level, Design, Problem Solving, Student Attitudes
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link-springer-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1751369
Author Affiliations: 1University at Buffalo, Department of Engineering Education, Buffalo, USA; 2University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, Organization, Information & Learning Sciences/Chemical & Biological Engineering, Albuquerque, USA

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