Lessons From an Analysis of the Intended Learning Outcomes of Integrative Project Units Within Engineering Programs

Abstract

<italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Contribution:</i> Insights are provided into the intended role of integrative courses that aim to connect technical and professional capabilities and, particularly, the appropriate stage within a program for different levels of integrative capability. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Background:</i> The need for Engineering graduates who can balance technical competence with professional and transversal capabilities is well recognized. Integrative multidisciplinary projects have become an increasingly common approach to managing this balance and have been the subject of significant research. There has, however, been minimal consideration of the level of integrative skills that might be considered as appropriate at different stages of degree programs. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Research Questions:</i> Do intended learning outcomes of integrative projects vary with their stage in a degree programs? If so, then what does this variation reveal regarding expectations on the development of integrative capabilities? <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Methodology:</i> Examples of project units that claim to be addressing integrative objectives and for which learning outcomes are available were collected ( <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N=33$ </tex-math></inline-formula> ). Guided by the existing literature on the purpose of integrative units a thematic analysis of these units was undertaken by coding the learning outcomes against the structure of observed learning outcome (SOLO) taxonomy. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Findings:</i> Within the existing units, there is clear evidence, as projects move from junior to senior, of a progression in the breadth of knowledge that is being drawn on in carrying out the projects, and the nature of knowledge integration becomes more purposeful. There is, however, no evidence of an associated progression in the intended level of integrative capability that is expected (e.g., identifying richer connections). This suggests the critical need for more work in this area.