Skills In Engineering Education Research Articles

A Systematic Review of Research on Pedagogical Practices for Communication Skills in Engineering Education

Abstract : The authors carried out a review study on the pedagogy for teaching communication skills (CS) in engineering higher education institutions with a view to firstly present the trend on the instructional pedagogical approaches used in an engineering classroom and secondly, to show the impact of these approaches on learners' development of CS. In order to address the research questions, we adopted 'Systematic Literature Review' as a research methodology and reviewed empirical research studies published between the year 2001 and 2021 exploring electronic database. Having followed the review protocols, we finally selected 26 research articles for a detailed analysis and synthesis. In regard with number of publications, the trends placed the USA at the top position which was followed by India. Overall, we found a lack of experimental research, subsequently a lack of evidence-based teaching practice, in the domain of pedagogy for developing CS leading to the assumption of still prevalent conventional lecture method of teaching in the CS classroom which is further held responsible for poor CS among engineering graduates. The teaching trend indicates that engineering institutions across nations are increasingly becoming aware of evidenced-based teaching approaches and are adopting innovative, learner-centered methods blended with ICT tools to facilitate the process of developing CS, along with other generic skills which has positive impact on learners' development of skills and attributes. The findings have implications for both; research and classroom teaching. Keywords : communication skills; engineering education; instructional pedagogy; systematic literature review.

Teaching Soft Skills in Engineering Education: An European Perspective

Higher Education engineering students need to be prepared to address sustainable solutions to the complex problems faced in this century. They should become proficient problem solvers, able to work in multidisciplinary teams, ready to adapt to new technologies, and able to acquire new knowledge and skills when needed. Usually known as soft skills, these competences play a key role in Engineering and have being taught in the last two decades, to a greater or lesser extent, using different methodologies and tools. This study reviews the promotion and teaching of soft skills in Higher Education across 5 European countries: Greece, Estonia, Denmark, Portugal and Spain. It provides an overview of best practices on these countries, focusing also on technological solutions to actually enable the development of soft skills. The purpose of this research is to shed some light about how soft skills are being taught presently and the difficulties involved in that process.

GPBL:An Effective Way to Improve Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills in Engineering Education

There are various active learning strategies like Game based Learning (GBL), Puzzle based Learning (PBL), Project based Learning, Problem based Learning etc to improve students' knowledge. Puzzle based learning (PBL) can be used to attract, motivate, and retain students as well as to improve the critical thinking and problem solving ability of students. Similarly Game based Learning (GBL) can also be used to promote students' interest and engagement, and provide immediate feedback on performance. Hence in this study, I designed the GPBL(Game and Puzzle based Learning)which is the combination of the PBL and GBL to improve the critical thinking and problem solving ability of students. So in GPBL,Crossword puzzle,word search puzzle, word scramble puzzle and word match puzzle are considered while game considered is snake and Ladder game. This activity was conducted for the course Digital Technique of Second Year Computer Science and Engineering. Twelve puzzles (three Crossword puzzles, three Word Search puzzles, three Word Matching puzzles and three Word Scramble puzzles) and three Snake and Ladder games are considered as a part of this GPBL activity which covers the syllabus of the course Digital Technique. Also the feedback related to this activity is presented.

LANGUAGE COMMUNICATION COMPETENCIES IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION REVISITED

The ability to learn languages and adapt communication competencies to the changing needs and situations of a global knowledge society and the European Higher Education area is becoming a necessity for future engineers. This article first discusses the demand for communication skills in Engineering Education in general. Secondly, it describes the present state of the Bologna process in Spanish higher education, which calls for a change in focus from an input model to an output one, in which learning outcomes are central. Finally, it summarizes the proposal of developing a ªbank" of language learning outcomes for Engineering Education studies framed within the European Language Portfolio. This bank of learning outcomes, expressed as ªcan do" statements, will serve three purposes: curricula guidance for teachers, guidelines for student life-long learning and autonomous learning.

Are We Neglecting Real Analytical Skills in Engineering Education?

SUMMARY The writer expresses concern with what he claims is the present overemphasis on computational work in engineering education. He argues that there is an over-emphasis on numerical questions in undergraduate examinations in engineering, and that mastery of concepts is not necessarily tested by this type of question. He attempts to demonstrate, and to confirm by means of research which he has carried out in his own department, that the introduction of problems which are not predominantly computational can lead to deeper overall comprehension by learners. He concludes that quantitative and qualitative understanding are not comparable components of engineering education, since the latter involves and often depends on analysis whereas the former seldom requires more than understanding and application.