Industry-based Strategy for Teaching First Year Engineering Students

Most first year engineering courses are taught using a lecture-based curriculum. Some engineering courses are taught using a project-based model. Austin Community College has developed an industry-based approach to teaching the Introduction to Engineering course. The class model is based on developing students as functioning engineers before they exit college by emphasizing interpersonal skills, critical thinking, collaborative projects, and using standard engineering tools of todays industry. It is augmented with industry guest speakers and tours. The study hopes to compare traditional-based curriculum versus the industry-based curriculum as a means to enhance the overall student learning experience and preparation for an engineering career. A further goal is that the college retains engineering students by showing them what it is like to work as an engineer early in their college career rather than waiting until the senior year as in most engineering degree plans. A goal of the new curriculum is to train engineering students to act as practicing engineers so that they are more proficient engineers from the start of their career.

Industry-based Strategy for Teaching First Year Engineering Students Conference Paper