Innovative Methods in Technological Education. Studies in Engineering Education 13.

Overview & Synopsis

This book presents 16 papers on problems and innovations in postsecondary engineering education. An introduction discusses the major issues currently facing engineering education. Chapter 2 briefly reviews the papers which are grouped under topics. Three of thee papers comment on teaching non-technical matters and attitudes. Two papers point out new impacts of computers on education: information access and control and the intelligent use of computers for enhanced learning. On laboratory work and projects, two papers describe the organization of laboratories and practical work in the Hong Kong City Polytechnic. Another proposes basing an engineering degree completely on project work. Three papers on educational software use in developing countries report on the difficulties in teaching engineering students mostly from non-industrialized societies in a second language (English). A section on distance education involving computers and a communication system describes the use of one program and the difficulties of developing countries in this area. Two papers present examples of new universities: an open university in India and the internationalization of education in Europe. A paper on continuing education describes its importance in developing countries. Most papers include references. (JB)