This paper discusses engineering praxis ethos (EPE), a proposed framework for constructing a STEM learning environment embedding interrelated components of learner experience and design activity, which can support curriculum and instructional design and evaluation in STEM education. The authors propose that STEM is a meta-discipline that relies on…

Nearly a decade ago, the "Framework for K-12 Science Education" argued for the need to intertwine science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts in performance expectations. However, there are few empirical examples for how intertwining three dimensions facilitates learning. In this study, we used a…

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Virginia Tech is in the fourth year of a large-scale change project called "Revolutionizing Engineering Departments" (NSF RED) (Lord et al., 2018). Our project has three interrelated goals: (1) broaden the range of students entering the department, (2) expand the boundaries…

This paper reports on the development of an engineering curriculum for a new industrial engineering programme at a medium-sized private university in the northeast United States. A systems engineering process has been followed to design and develop the new curriculum. Considering the programme curriculum as a system, first the stakeholders have…

From October 2003 to April 2008 a systemic reform of the Mechanical Engineering program at The City College of New York was undertaken with the goal of incorporating emerging technologies (such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), intelligent systems) and new teaching methodologies (such as project based…

The rapid evolution of System-on-Chip (SoC) challenges academic curricula to keep pace with multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary system thinking. This paper presents a curricular prototype that cuts across artificial course boundaries and provides a meaningful exploration of diverse facets of SoC design. Specifically, experimental contents of a…

This paper presents a brief overview of the changes made during our department level reform (DLR) process (Grant Title: "A Systems Approach for Civil and Environmental Engineering Education: Integrating Systems Thinking, Inquiry-Based Learning and Catamount Community Service-Learning Projects") and some of the effects of these changes on…

Engineers have a set of powerful tools at their disposal for designing robust and reliable technical systems. In educational design these tools are seldom applied. This paper explores the application of concepts from the systems approach in an educational context. The paradigms of design methodology and systems engineering appear to be suitable…

The systems engineer attempts to predict the consequences of his system's operation. (Editor)

Claims that curriculum planning and effective advising will help students develop intellectual connections across their individual courses and thus enhance their college experience. Explains how nine colleges now use interdisciplinary teaching to improve their engineering programs by making connections across department boundaries, college…

Project C-BE had four goals: identify computer-based concepts that are common among several disciplines, develop evaluation procedures for this type of effort, identify the elements of educational program transferability, and develop a fiscal model. This document lists Project C-BE researchers and gives a brief abstract of their project…

The result of an 11-week study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the American Society of Engineering Education is presented. This study was the ninth in a series of programs whose purposes were: (1) to introduce engineering school faculty members to system design and to a particular approach of teaching system design,…

Discusses the development of a design task in which the students can focus on problems in some part of the city. Describes such an improved strategy for teaching the design of complex systems as challenging and beneficial, especially for those interested in urban-related careers. (CC)

Describes an example of the main steps in restructuring a curriculum and thinking developed by a systems approach. Provides several diagrams illustrating the curriculum structure. (Author/YP)