In this article, the author argues that teaching "technological literacy" at the expense of hands-on skills training is wrong for the students, wrong for the economy, and wrong for the nation. Students need not only the opportunity to explore a variety of trade skills but also the opportunity to learn a skill well. It is in the teaching…

Presents perspectives on the aims and content of materials science courses and materials engineering courses. Outlines a proposed curriculum for a four-year degree course in engineering and identifies technical and social skills necessary for engineers. (ML)

Discussion of how to teach decision-making skills to undergraduate engineering design students highlights a computer-based decision support tool, WOMBAT (Weighted Objectives Method by Arguing with the Tutor). Changes in WOMBAT from an earlier version are described, and an example of dialog between a user and the system is included. (Contains 24…

Describes an agricultural mechanics instructional program consisting of three phases: the classroom instruction phase, where basic concepts, principles, and understandings are taught; the required activities phase, where one to three skills relating to the classroom are developed; and the approved activities phase, where more in-depth skill…

Based on a language-needs analysis for students in a German for engineering course, this article argues that teaching languages for special purposes needs to consider the subject-specific needs of specialists in a given field. It proposes that LSP courses need to be skill oriented and learner centered and should emphasize the role of…