Development of mechanical engineering curricula at the University of Minho

The implementation of the Bologna protocol in the European Union has set new goals for the whole higher education system as: (a) a quality assessment for university courses; (b) a framework for the exchange of students and academics; and (c) an opportunity for changing the teaching/learning procedures and methodologies. Within the context, the mechanical engineering curricula at the University of Minho have been comprehensively formulated in order to meet these and future challenges and expectations. The whole process has been based upon various cornerstones: the legal framework for the higher education system; the introduction of new learning methodologies and an accurate survey and understanding of the existing strong and week points of the previous experience. For this purpose, a comprehensive evaluation has been carried out with former students and a detailed map has been formulated regarding their professional careers and experiences. Furthermore, a discussion has been carried out in order to define the mission of the graduate in mechanical engineering. In brief, such mission may be referred by his ability to participate in the wealth creation through technology based innovation. Within this context, the curriculum has been structured in order to meet such goals. In addition to strong foundations in physics and mathematics, new subjects are introduced into the curriculum. The whole education is based upon project development which stimulates the students' initiative, responsibility and their ability to integrate knowledge. Throughout the curriculum, students are enrolled into research projects developed in the department and it is expected that a few selected projects may be taken into a quasi industrial stage.     

面向“项目中心课程模式”的进阶式挑战性跨学科项目设计与实践

新工科教育改革的核心问题之一是课程,课程改革的要点在于落实"以人才培养逻辑和人的发展逻辑取代学科本位逻辑,打破学科划界而治局面"的工程教育新模式。在深入研究MIT新工程教育转型及其"项目中心课程模式"基础上,电子科技大学软件工程学院创建了一门跨度1.5年的跨学科项目课程:进阶式挑战性跨学科项目Ⅰ/Ⅱ/Ⅲ。课程以学生为中心、兴趣牵引、立足系统、打破了学科隔离,设计了一个逐级进阶的项目序列,学生最终完成一个软硬一体的跨学科项目。结合工程教育认证面向产出要求,采用逆向教学方法,对项目目标和学生能力进行了达成度评价,结果表明学生的相关能力和素质得到有效培养。在国内高校全面开展新工科改革背景下,期望本文面向新工科的课程改革探索对国内相关专业建设有一定的参考。     

Applying the Rasch Model to Evaluate an Implementation of the Kentucky Electronics Education Project

Kentucky Electronics Education Project (KEEP) uses microelectronics to connect real world content to K-12 science education. KEEP trains teachers in a series of circuit building activities through summer workshops and in-service professional development. Teachers are expected to implement components of their training into their curriculum, and then participating students are asked to evaluate their experience. Here, survey responses of 61 Midwest high school students, who completed a circuit building activity in the classroom setting, are analyzed using a Rasch rating scale model. Insights are provided regarding the inquiry based, hands-on engineering activity, while introducing a tool for program evaluation. Results characterize students’ perceptions regarding difficulty of the project and potential misunderstandings. Suggestions for project enhancement, based on empirical evidence and practical experience, are described.     

Subjects for Study: Aspects of a Social History of Curriculum

The publication of Kilpatrick's classic paper on the project method' sparked a lively theoretical debate in the USA about learner-directed projects in the curriculum. Boyd Bode's critique a decade later brought the American debate to a close, but projects have continued to play an important practical role. Recent trends in the US, including authentic assessment' and project-related work in the postindustrial economy, have stimulated renewed attention to learner projects.This paper reviews the earlier debate on project method and assesses its implications for postindustrial education.     

在线课程实施模式创新构建及应用实践

课程实施本身是一项关涉到课程计划、课程教学、课程评价等多个要素的复杂的系统工程。以课程实施理论、ADDIE通用设计模型、PDSA质量管理理论为依据,在专业认证背景下提出"三三六"课程实施模式:以"学生中心、产出导向、持续改进"三大理念为指导思想,以"价值引领、能力培养、知识传授"三维目标为指向,以大纲制定、情境分析、教学开发、教学实践、目标达成度评价、教学改进等六项举措为抓手,指向促进课程有效实施与质量提升。2020年春季学期,以在线课程"教育传播学"为例开展模式的应用实践。课程目标达成度评价结果显示,基于"三三六"模式推进在线课程实施能够取得较好效果,几个关键课程目标达成度之间存在显著正向相关性,学生对课程目标达成度有着较高满意度。     

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL OF A NEW ENGINEERING CURRICULUM

The paper describes a major curriculum development programme in electrical engineering which uses experiential learning to develop education for capability. The problems of assessment and evaluation which such a course generates are discussed and the complex system of assurance and control which was developed to overcome these problems is described.     

Engineering ethics education in the USA: Content,pedagogy and curriculum

Interest in engineering ethics education developed significant momentum in the USA as the 20th century drew to a close. Nevertheless, nearly 80% of engineering graduates are not required to take ethics-related courses. The content of engineering ethics education consists of 'microethical' issues focusing on individual professional responsibility and 'macroethical' issues dealing with the development of technology. The pedagogical framework of engineering ethics education has evolved primarily toward utilization of case studies and codes of ethics, in some instances supplemented by an introduction to moral theory. Substantial progress has been made in the development of case materials, including highprofile cases, everyday cases, quantitative cases and cases highlighting 'good works'. Cases are widely disseminated in textbooks and online. Online resources include interactive case studies and a rich variety of other ethics-related materials. Prominent curriculum models in the USA include a required course in engineering ethics, ethics-across-the-curriculum projects, and integration of engineering ethics and science, technology and society material. Changes in accreditation criteria for US engineering schools will potentially elevate the prominence of instruction in engineering ethics and the societal context of engineering. Many challenges remain, most notably the need for US engineering faculty to accept greater responsibility for engineering ethics education.     

Making Courses More Imaginative

Abstract

This article describes the organization and implementation of a class survey project. The exercise, which can be applied across disciplines, may be tied to course materials or campus activities. Three surveys conducted by the authors and their students are detailed and the students' roles in the projects are discussed. Students benefit from the group survey projects by gaining valuable experience under the guidance of their professors.     

Community‐based environmental education—a case study of teacher–parent collaboration

A case study of school–community collaboration in an elementary community school in Israel follows up an environmental education (EE) school‐based curriculum that involves the parents and community members in various indoors and outdoors activities. The collaboration was established in the framework of the Community School Approach. In these schools, parents are encouraged to be involved in planning school‐based curriculum and participating in school's formal and informal activities. The aim of the study was to describe environmental education‐based school–community partnerships and to examine the advantages and limitations for such collaboration. Parents, teachers and community members were interviewed for a period of three years. Most of the participants acknowledged the unique nature of EE that allows such a partnership, emphasizing local ideas of project‐based learning in environmental education. The study describes an exemplary collaboration and the development of local school–community partnerships, which could be adapted by other communities within elementary or middle schools.     

Manipulating and diversifying the levels of difficulty and task‐sophistication of one and the same laboratory exercise

Summaries

English.

The major national curriculum development projects in the UK were produced between 1963 and 1973. Although funded by two differentnational organizations, there has been considerable co‐operation and overlap of project staff and ideas resulting in a continuousrefinement of the centre‐periphery model used. By the end of the 10‐year period the model's defects had become clear and the continuing national projects considered it essential to request additional funds for further dissemination and after‐care. Subsequent projects have mostly been based on a local curriculum development model involving practising teachers to a much greater extent both in the curriculum development process and in the preparation of materials.

It has become apparent that there is no single measure on which a project can be called successful or on which it can be determined that a project has ‘taken root’. Projects can fulfil their proposers’ wildest hopes and yet achieve little uptake; or, they can take root in the sense of having a considerable impact on science education in general whilst being substantially used by only a minority of the target group of teachers. The thesis of this article is that whilst dissemination and after‐care are essential, they are not sufficient to ensure uptake. Of prime importance isthe general attitude to curriculum development; the relevance of theprojects materials and ideas to the problems teachers face in schools; the extent to which they offer teachers fulfilment without requiring a complete re‐evaluation of their perspective to education and the cost in terms of equipment, materials and manpower.     

质量保障视角下工程硕士研究生“知识产权”课程改革

课程教学质量评价及其保障是研究生教育质量保障体系建设的重要环节。在研究生课程体系中,公共课程的教学及其质量评价较之专业课而言独立性更强,也更容易被忽视。从质量保障角度看,工程硕士研究生知识产权课程存在地位边缘化、教学实施与课程目标契合不够以及教学目标达成评价的事实缺位等问题。由知识产权法学教育向知识产权教育回归,进而明确其教学目标和基本要求,是质量保障视角下该课程改革的基本要求。为此,要通过围绕教学目标更新教学内容、突出知识产权运用能力培养进行教学设计和组织教学,配套改革教学方法和课程考核方式等综合措施,确保该课程为培养目标和学位要求提供支撑的有效度。     

Curriculum development for quantitative skills in degree programs: a cross-institutional study situated in the life sciences

Higher education policies are increasingly focused on graduate learning outcomes, which infer an emphasis on, and deep understanding of, curriculum development across degree programs. As disciplinary influences are known to shape teaching and learning activities, research situated in disciplinary contexts is useful to further an understanding of curriculum development. In the life sciences, several graduate learning outcomes are underpinned by quantitative skills or an ability to apply mathematical and statistical thinking and reasoning. Drawing on data from a national teaching project in Australia that explored quantitative skills in the implemented curricula of 13 life sciences degree programs, this article presents four program-level curricular models that emerged from the analysis. The findings are interpreted through the lens of discipline-specific research and general curriculum design theories to further our understanding of curriculum development for graduate learning outcomes. Implications for future research and to guide curriculum development practices in higher education are discussed.     

油气储运工程专业双体系人才培养方案建设进展

广东石油化工学院油气储运工程专业积极开展双体系人才培养模式改革建设,旨在提升学生的培养质量、提高毕业生的综合素质.在课程教育体系建设方面,充分贯彻双体系人才培养方案的理念,对课程教育体系进行深度改革,提高学生的人文素养、丰富学生的理论知识、增强学生的应用能力及工程实践能力.在素拓教育体系建设方面,共制定了16个素拓项目,其中包含12个必修素拓项目、4个选修素拓项目,每个素拓项目均制定了详细的执行方案.通过双体系培养方案的建设,为本专业培养高素质应用型工程技术人才打下坚实基础.     

基于项目式教学的土木工程实验课程改革探讨

应用型高校的建设对各专业的实践教学活动提出了新的要求,土木工程实验课程是土木工程专业的重要实践环节,但在教学过程中,该课程面临一系列问题。该研究将项目式教学法引入土木工程实验课程中,并提出以下基本应用步骤,即依据学科方向划分项目类别,依据项目类别搜集工程案例,基于工程实例进行土木工程实验课程教学设计,优化土木工程实验课程考核机制,以及试点推广等。课题旨在践行以项目为抓手的应用教育理念,实现传统实验教学从“教”向“学”转变,提高土木工程专业的人才培养质量。     

Faculty perspectives on the inclusion of work-related learning in engineering curricula

The purpose of this paper is to identify faculty perspectives on the integration of work-related issues in engineering education. A mixed methods approach was used to explore faculty attitudes towards work-related learning, to describe activities related to working life that have been introduced into the curriculum and to identify factors that faculty see as important if the amount of work-related learning is to increase. The results show that faculty members are positive about integrating work-related issues into the curriculum. Programmes with more extensive connections to industry offer more integrated activities, such as projects with external actors, and use professional contacts established through research in their teaching. In order to increase work-related learning in engineering curricula, faculty request clear goals and pedagogical tools. Other options to increase work-related learning include offering faculty the opportunity to work outside academia.     

基于卓越工程师培养的高等工程教育课程体系的构建

以"卓越计划"为背景,从培养目标、课程体系、课程内容、课程实施和课程考核五个方面,分析目前我国高等工程教育课程体系中存在的主要问题,进而对高等工程教育课程体系的构建进行研究与探索,以期为高等工程教育新课程体系的构建提供参考。     

Nonformal education and rural development in Ghana

This article describes and evaluates a nonformal education rural development project which evolved through a collaborative arrangement between a private voluntary organization in Ghana and a North American university. After extensive discussions a relationship developed between the University of Massachusetts' Center for International Education and Ghana's Peoples' Educational Association, a national adult education organization with links to the University of Ghana's Institute of Adult Education.The two organizations agreed to cooperate in the development and evaluation of several village facilitator models in which a much wider cross-section of the community would participate in a variety of development projects and educational activities. The models were to emphasize a shift from a leader-dominated perspective to more group participation with villagers taking responsibility for their actions, both in meetings and in development projects.     

Integrating alternative assessment in a project-based learning course for pre-service science and technology teachers

This paper deals with a required methods course, based on the national curriculum of science and technology for junior high schools. The course participants are pre-service teachers who study towards a B.Sc. degree in education in science and technology parallel to their studies in one of the faculties of sciences or engineering. Working in small teams, the students carry out a project in a Project-Based Learning (PBL) environment. The final outcomes of the project are group and individual written reports, a portfolio, a multimedia presentation and a physical model. The research question was: what implementation issues and processes do higher education students encounter in a Project-Based Learning environment which involves an alternative assessment approach? Qualitative and quantitative tools for collecting data included ‘the participant as observer’ observations at the classroom, semi-structured interviews with students, questionnaire, and analysis of students' reports and products. The findings relate to the advantages of PBL from the students' point of view, the challenges students experienced and perceived while conducting their projects, and the benefits students may gain from formative assessment.     

Use of electronic surveys in course evaluation

The growth of e–Universities and flexible delivery in higher education may also lead to increased use of electronic course evaluation methods. The effectiveness and methodology of electronic surveys are discussed. In the graduate–entry, problem–based University of Sydney Medical Program extensive use is made of web technologies for curriculum delivery and evaluation. The design and response rates for web–based "End of Year" student evaluation surveys in the medical program are reported for the period 1997–2001. To be used successfully in course evaluation, online surveys should be infrequent, short, simply designed and free from password access, and de–identified results should be displayed to students on their completion of a survey.     

Attitudes of Secondary School STEM Teachers towards Supervising Research and Design Activities

Research and design activities are important focus points in international policies for secondary Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. It is up to school teachers to implement and supervise these activities in the STEM classroom. However, not much is known about the attitudes teachers hold towards supervising research projects or design projects. In this study, a questionnaire to measure teacher attitudes towards supervising research activities and design activities in secondary school was completed by 130 Dutch teachers who taught the relatively new Dutch STEM subjects O&O (research and design) and NLT (nature, life, and technology). These integrated STEM subjects are project and context based and are taught in a limited number of schools. Important differences between these integrated STEM subjects are their student and teacher populations: NLT is taught in grades 10–12 by teachers with a qualification in a science subject, while O&O is taught in grades 7–12 and can be given by any teacher in secondary school. The results showed that on average, both O&O and NLT teachers had high self-efficacy scores on supervising research and design projects even when they had received no special education in doing so. Furthermore, the teachers in general viewed supervising research projects as a more relevant activity than supervising design. Since research and design activities are becoming more important in (inter)national curriculum standards, STEM teacher education and subsequent professional development should not only familiarize teachers with supervising research projects, but with design projects as well.