The authors describe the changes in curricula and methods of instruction for engineers in the twenty-first century. These changes and those related to the structure of the educational system are described as responses to the energy situation in America. (SA)

Described is a doctorate level elective course in chemical engineering economics offered at the University of Tennessee. Students, working in pairs as a project team, must apply their knowledge of basic economics to the solution of a research question or problem. (BT)

Described is a series of four graduate level courses in polymer science, offered or currently in preparation, at Stanford University. Course descriptions and a list of required and recommended texts are included. Detailed course outlines for two of the courses are presented. (BT)

The difficulties of undertaking education development in higher education are explored, using the Educational Objectives in Applied Science project, conducted with the Scottish Universities of Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt to illustrate the problems. This project sought to replan engineering courses within an established system. (JMD)

Explains NEEDS (National Engineering Education Delivery System), an infrastructure developed by the Synthesis Engineering Education Coalition to disseminate computer-based multimedia courseware over the Internet for distant independent education. Topics include supporting curricular change, an example of available material, and exploratory…

Describes one day of a week-long Math Options Summer Institute, the third component in a series that offers career awareness experiences to young women throughout their middle and high school years. Mentors young women in pursuing careers in mathematics, science, engineering, and technology education. (DDR)

To give students practical experience in professional engineering, final year students at Nottingham Polytechnic (United Kingdom) proctor (assist) groups of first and second year engineering students and local school students in completing projects. Outlines the aims and objectives of the proctoring program and its assessment procedure: a report…

Defines student-centered, open learning, and distance learning. Describes the benefits of interactive, multimedia-based open learning to the learners, lecturers, tutors, sponsors, and the educational or training institution. Lists the main features of this approach and provides details about the structured system design approach to interactive…

A study explored the impact of a testing change designed to encourage deeper approaches to learning. In an engineering materials science course, an open-book final examination was used, with time and opportunities for colleague interaction. Student attitudes and outcomes were compared to those of students tested with a traditional closed-book…

Presents a new model to account for lecturing in a second language. The model is based on extensive ethnographic research conducted over the past 10 years at a university in Hong Kong, and in particular of an ethnographic case study of engineering students. (Author/VWL)

Traces the history of education for girls in Lebanon and that of the school which is now known as the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Focuses on the development of engineering education as well as the strategies used by the school during the civil war. (DDR)

In 18 years, over 260,000 Chinese students have left China to study abroad, and only about one-third have returned. Their flight is compounding the devastation of China's knowledge and talent pool that began with Mao Ze-dong. China is encouraging study abroad, to rectify the loss of a generation of academics, and is most interested in science and…

Outlines some techniques to increase student participation, interest, and learning that involve asking better questions and waiting an appropriate amount of time for the student response. Also explains the need for a good questioning technique that yields sufficiently difficult questions. (DDR)

Discusses a methods kit for interactive problem-solving exercises in engineering education as well as a methodology for intelligent evaluation of solutions. The quality of a system teaching logistics thinking can be improved using artificial intelligence. Embedding a rule-based diagnosis module that evaluates the student's knowledge actively…

Describes a collaborative project between the Virtual School of Engineering at The University of Queensland and two junior and senior science classes at Townsville State High School. The project involved science students working with real world engineering problems using on-line resources. Problems were created by the senior science teacher and…