Educating Engineers for the Information Age: A Real-World Case Studies Based Project

Auburn University, Auburn AL

Investigators

Abstract

Engineering - Other (59) The goals of this project are to develop and test materials that (a) show engineering students the integration of theory, practice, and information technologies that occur in the real-world, (b) improve their higher-level cognitive skills, and (c) provide examples of teams of engineers and managers working together using information technologies to solve problems. The project is based on an earlier proof-of-concept effort, built around the case study entitled "Crist Power Plant", which helped engineering students to understand how expert systems are used in the real-world to solve complex problems that involve many criteria and several alternatives. In the present project, eleven companies are working with us to create new case studies. We are also developing background competency materials, instructional manuals, multimedia CD-ROMs, web sites, and videos to support the case studies. The instructional materials are being tested with engineering students at three minority serving institutions as well as at four other Universities. In addition, as a pilot project, the concept of a case emporium is being evaluated. This case emporium provides student teams at Auburn and Mercer Universities an opportunity to work together in a virtual environment.