Reforming Undergraduate Engineering Education Using an Integrated Platform for Learning

Oregon State University, Corvallis OR

Investigators

Abstract

PROPOSAL NO.: 0230679 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Fiez, Terri INSTITUTION NAME: Oregon State University TITLE: Reforming Undergraduate Engineering Education Using an Integrated Platform for Learning Abstract The planning grant will be used to develop new curricula for both Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Oregon State University. A platform for learning is used to integrate the curriculum.. Beginning in the freshman year, students build on the platform (in this case a robot we call TekBots) so that subject areas become connected and students have a context for their learning similar to what practicing engineers experience in their profession. As students take courses throughout the program, they apply their knowledge to this platform so that it becomes a representation of what they have learned and how the various topics they have learned are connected. A key part of developing this curriculum is also enhancing stakeholder-defined goals and outcomes such as those in the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) criteria. The proposed curriculum will be designed to specifically enhance these outcomes and, the will determine if and how much the platform for learning curriculum improves each of these outcomes.