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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Observing Cultural Interactions In Engineering Design,, Timothy J. Mccarthy, Anne Gardner, Thomas L. Goldfinch, Catherine A. Layton, Giles Thomas, Alan Henderson
Observing Cultural Interactions In Engineering Design,, Timothy J. Mccarthy, Anne Gardner, Thomas L. Goldfinch, Catherine A. Layton, Giles Thomas, Alan Henderson
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
The University of Wollongong and partner institutions UTAS, UTS, and QUThave engaged in an ALTC funded project to address issues of intercultural competence inengineering. As a major component of this project, observational research techniquesare being employed to assess the current state of intercultural competence in first andsecond year engineering students. The research described in this paper is a processemployed by the authors to observe cultural interactions between students in first orsecond year design subjects. The process involves simple video recordings of the groups¿interactions over the course of a normal project team meeting, which are then coded andanalysed using NVivo 8. …
Project Based Learning In The First Year Engineering Curriculum, Brad Stappenbelt, Chris Rowles
Project Based Learning In The First Year Engineering Curriculum, Brad Stappenbelt, Chris Rowles
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
This paper examines the implementation of a project-based learning approach in the first year engineering curriculum at the University of Western Australia (UWA). As part of this initiative, the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Challenge was employed as the focus of student activity within the core undergraduate unit Introduction to Professional Engineering. This unit is the foundation of the professional development component of the engineering degree at UWA. The EWB Challenge provided students with the opportunity to learn about professional engineering whilst contributing towards a real international development project. To create a successful project based learning environment, a comprehensive tutor training …
Professional Ethics Education In Engineering, Brad Stappenbelt
Professional Ethics Education In Engineering, Brad Stappenbelt
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
There is much debate surrounding professional ethics education, in particular surrounding the question of whether professional ethics can be taught at all (Steneck, 1999; Bauer and Adams, 2005). Professional ethics instruction in engineering is commonly conducted by examining case studies in light of the code of conduct of a suitable professional body. Although graphical presentations of spectacular failures, sobering stories of the repercussions and the solid framework provided by the tenets of a code of ethics may leave a lasting impression, students generally gain their professional identity from relatives and colleagues (Loui, 2005). Their professional ethics tend to be mostly …
Encouraging Cultural Awareness In Engineering Students, Thomas L. Goldfinch, Catherine A. Layton, Timothy J. Mccarthy
Encouraging Cultural Awareness In Engineering Students, Thomas L. Goldfinch, Catherine A. Layton, Timothy J. Mccarthy
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
With ever diversifying engineering student cohorts, faculty, and ultimately, engineering workforce, there is an increasing need to foster genuine cultural intelligence and awareness in students. An in-depth audit of graduate attribute-oriented learning experiences in engineering curricula at the University of Wollongong, identified a very limited number of learning experiences targeting cultural intelligence. This paper describes a project aimed at developing learning activities to improve the cultural awareness of first year engineering students. Crucially for the project, activities had to be developed with ‘nuts and bolts’, or ‘formulae’ focused engineering students in mind. Concepts of Critical Consciousness and self reflection have …
Research Methodologies For Engineering Asset Management, Khaled O. El-Akruti, Richard Dwight
Research Methodologies For Engineering Asset Management, Khaled O. El-Akruti, Richard Dwight
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
This paper serves as a guide for researchers in Asset Management (AM). Its objective is to establish sufficient reasoning to select and complement research methodologies for AM research studies. It explores literature and adds to existing research approaches in AM. This will lead to a stronger body of knowledge through a better contribution from research. AM as a discipline, addresses the management of the life cycle of assets utilized by an organisation. This extends from identification of the need to the disposal and liability thereafter. It includes technical and business activities. From this view, AM is a relatively new discipline. …
Business Modeling With The Support Of Multiple Notations In Requirements Engineering, Mohammad Moshiur Bhuiyan, Aneesh Krishna
Business Modeling With The Support Of Multiple Notations In Requirements Engineering, Mohammad Moshiur Bhuiyan, Aneesh Krishna
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
Requirements specification should not be concerned only with the software specification, but should also be able to integrate with the organizational models describing the environment in which the system will function. Agent–oriented conceptual modeling notations such as i* represents an interesting approach for modeling early phase requirements which includes organizational contexts, stakeholder intentions and rationale. Business Process Modeling notations such as BPMN are used to effectively conceptualize and communicate important process characteristics to relevant stakeholders. On the other hand, Unified Modeling Language (UML) is suitable for later phases of requirement capture which usually focus on completeness, consistency, and automated verification …
Evaluating Online Multiple Choice Quizzes As Formative Assessment Tools In An Engineering Fluid Mechanics Subject, David B. Hastie, Thomas Goldfinch
Evaluating Online Multiple Choice Quizzes As Formative Assessment Tools In An Engineering Fluid Mechanics Subject, David B. Hastie, Thomas Goldfinch
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
In an effort to improve learning outcomes in a second year Engineering Fluid Mechanics subject, the first author has developed and piloted a series of online multiple choice quizzes (MCQ) as formative assessment tools. This paper describes the development and implementation of these quizzes and the evaluation of their effect on students’ results in a formal written mid-session exam and also final exam. Students’ perception of the quizzes is also captured and discussed through the use of a brief, in class survey. The effect of these MCQs was investigated for two main cohorts of students, those who voluntarily attempted the …
Embedding Graduate Attribute Development Into The Engineering Curriculum: Less Is More?, Long Nghiem, Thomas L. Goldfinch, Maureen E. Bell
Embedding Graduate Attribute Development Into The Engineering Curriculum: Less Is More?, Long Nghiem, Thomas L. Goldfinch, Maureen E. Bell
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
'Graduate Attributes' is a term which all too frequently sends shivers down the spines of engineering academics. The idea of having to instil a diverse set of professional behaviours and attitudes in youthful engineering students, while still ensuring a level of technical competence, can be intimidating for many. With high stakes associated with accreditation, high level university policy, and external government auditing, there can be perception that addressing as many different attributes as possible in a subject is desirable. Recent research at the University of Wollongong suggests that the idea of tackling several different Graduate attributes may be ineffective. This …
Plagiarism In First-Year Engineering Education: A Snapshot Of Student Attitudes And Abilities, Brad Stappenbelt, Chris Rowles
Plagiarism In First-Year Engineering Education: A Snapshot Of Student Attitudes And Abilities, Brad Stappenbelt, Chris Rowles
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
This paper investigates student attitudes and abilities regarding the growing issue of plagiarism in higher education. The study examined a group of first-year engineering students. These students either matriculated directly from high school or were newly arrived international students and were therefore not likely to be familiar with the Australian university system. Student abilities to recognise plagiarism were examined through a series of writing samples and their attitudes pertaining to plagiarism were also investigated through interviews and surveys. The results revealed that there was little difference between the international and first-year Australian students' abilities to detect plagiarism. Skill deficiencies and …
Students Views On Engineering Mechanics Education And The Implications For Educators, Thomas Goldfinch, Giles Thomas, Anna L. Carew
Students Views On Engineering Mechanics Education And The Implications For Educators, Thomas Goldfinch, Giles Thomas, Anna L. Carew
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
This paper presents findings of a qualitative study conducted as part of a larger project to address the issue of high failure rates in first year engineering mechanics. Engineering student focus groups were held at two institutions, and were asked about the subject area, curriculum, and their approaches to study. Eight academics were also interviewed individually on the same topics to provide some context for the focus group outcomes. Documented responses revealed a tendency for both groups to focus on the most negative or extreme examples as cases which were representative of a wider situation. Although the focus group and …
Peer Observation Of Teaching: Engineering New Skills And Collegiality, Paul Cooper, Maureen Bell
Peer Observation Of Teaching: Engineering New Skills And Collegiality, Paul Cooper, Maureen Bell
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
Academics in a school of engineering at the University of Wollongong participated in a peer observation of teaching pilot program using a partnership approach. All participants subsequently completed a questionnaire and were interviewed about the characteristics and effectiveness of the program. The average time spent by the academics participating was approximately 5 hours. Participants’ evaluation of the program was overwhelmingly positive with outcomes including development of skills, ideas for teaching and giving feedback, and increased confidence. The development of collegiality within the peer observation partnership groups and the school was an especially strong outcome. All participants requested some kind of …
A Knowledge Framework For Analysis Of Engineering Mechanics Exams, Thomas Goldfinch, Anna L. Carew, Timothy J. Mccarthy
A Knowledge Framework For Analysis Of Engineering Mechanics Exams, Thomas Goldfinch, Anna L. Carew, Timothy J. Mccarthy
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
In an ongoing research project focusing on improving learning in first year engineering mechanics, a framework for engineering mechanics knowledge has been identified. The framework has been applied to break down and categorise common mistakes made by students at four separate institutions to find out where students are struggling in their efforts to learn statics and dynamics. The framework separates knowledge into factual, procedural, conceptual, and principle areas in a semi hierarchical manner. In using this framework, it has become clearly evident that the marks students are awarded for their work tend to be biased towards procedural knowledge, rather than …
Establishing A Project Based Learning Environment For First Year Engineering Students, Brad Stappenbelt
Establishing A Project Based Learning Environment For First Year Engineering Students, Brad Stappenbelt
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
A project-based learning environment was recently established for first-year engineering students at the University of Western Australia. At the focus of this educational approach was a real international development project run within the core undergraduate unit Introduction to Professional Engineering. Students embarking on the professional development component of the engineering degree were traditionally taught about the role of the engineer, social and cultural engineering considerations, the multi-disciplinary nature of large engineering projects and team working and communication skills with minimal involvement in project and group work. The various concepts covered were treated primarily on an abstract theoretical level. Despite the …
The Influence Of University Entry Scores On Performance In Engineering Mechanics, Giles Thomas, Alan Henderson, Thomas L. Goldfinch
The Influence Of University Entry Scores On Performance In Engineering Mechanics, Giles Thomas, Alan Henderson, Thomas L. Goldfinch
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
An ongoing study into the causes of poor student performance in engineering mechanics has uncovered some intriguing data on the relationships between students’ university entry scores and their performance in engineering mechanics courses. Statistical analysis has shown that the expected correlations between this key measure used to determine students eligibility for study and engineering mechanics score either do not exist, or are too weak to base educational interventions on. However, students’ entry scores have instead been shown to provide a ‘risk factor’, whereby students’ risk of failing the subject can be determined by entry score ranges. These risk factors may …
Project Based Learning In The First Year Engineering Curriculum, Brad Stappenbelt, Chris Rowles
Project Based Learning In The First Year Engineering Curriculum, Brad Stappenbelt, Chris Rowles
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
This paper examines the implementation of a project-based learning approach in the first year engineering curriculum at the University of Western Australia (UWA). As part of this initiative, the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Challenge was employed as the focus of student activity within the core undergraduate unit Introduction to Professional Engineering. This unit is the foundation of the professional development component of the engineering degree at UWA. The EWB Challenge provided students with the opportunity to learn about professional engineering whilst contributing towards a real international development project. To create a successful project based learning environment, a comprehensive tutor training …
Improving Learning In Engineering Mechanics: The Significance Of Understanding, Thomas L. Goldfinch, Anna L. Carew, Timothy J. Mccarthy
Improving Learning In Engineering Mechanics: The Significance Of Understanding, Thomas L. Goldfinch, Anna L. Carew, Timothy J. Mccarthy
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
Mechanics is a key foundation topic for many engineering disciplines, the study of which usually constitutes a significant proportion of first and second year engineering undergraduate studies. Many engineering students experience substantial difficulties with introductory mechanics, and it is widely noted in the literature that pass rates in mechanics courses tend to be unacceptably low. This paper details the interim findings of, and issues arising from a literature search focusing on how engineering educators understand, describe, identify and deal with the causes of poor performance in introductory mechanics. The most striking conclusion drawn from this literature search is the lack …
Calibrating Engineering Graduate Capabilities Against Assessment Tasks: A Preliminary Study, Long Nghiem, Maureen E. Bell
Calibrating Engineering Graduate Capabilities Against Assessment Tasks: A Preliminary Study, Long Nghiem, Maureen E. Bell
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
This paper investigated the connection between assessment tasks and graduate capabilities. Surveys conducted as part of this study revealed differences in planning for the development of, and student achievement of, graduate capabilities and that assessment tasks were valuable tools to guide and facilitate the development of intended graduate capabilities. Drawing from the obtained data, a prototype framework for curriculum design was proposed, allowing for better alignment of assessment tasks and graduate capability development in systematic subject design.
Professional Development At University: Student Perceptions Of Professional Engineering Practice, Vinay Domal, Brad Stappenbelt, James Trevelyan
Professional Development At University: Student Perceptions Of Professional Engineering Practice, Vinay Domal, Brad Stappenbelt, James Trevelyan
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
This study examined student perceptions regarding professional engineering practice. We surveyed secondary school students attending engineering camps, engineering students in their first and fourth years, graduate engineers and experienced engineers to ascertain their impressions about what constitutes the daily activities of a professional engineer. We asked respondents to rate 39 aspects of engineering practice identified from the research later reported in (Trevelyan 2008). These aspects were rated by the participants according to their perception of the importance and the frequency encountered in engineering practice. We also asked where the participants learned or where they believed they were going to learn …
Earthquake Engineering For Transportation Network In Low To Moderate Seismicity Regions, M Neaz Sheikh, Frederic Legeron, Hing Ho Tsang, Nelson Lam, Timothy J. Mccarthy
Earthquake Engineering For Transportation Network In Low To Moderate Seismicity Regions, M Neaz Sheikh, Frederic Legeron, Hing Ho Tsang, Nelson Lam, Timothy J. Mccarthy
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
Major seismic events during the past few decades have continued to demonstrate the destructive power of earthquakes, with failures to buildings, bridges, industrial and port facilities, as well as giving rise to great economic losses. However, in low to moderate seismicity regions, seismic resistant design is still considered complicated and expensive in terms of actual seismic risk. This is partly due to the fact that design codes do not have any special consideration for these regions; also, economic factors have not been integrated fully with the design principles. Bridges are the most critical components of the transportation network, as failure …
Application Of Constructive Alignment Principles To Engineering Education: Have We Really Changed?, Sharon Nightingale, Anna L. Carew, Justin Fung
Application Of Constructive Alignment Principles To Engineering Education: Have We Really Changed?, Sharon Nightingale, Anna L. Carew, Justin Fung
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
A survey of some common engineering subjects in four Australian universities shows that despite much discussion of student centred learning, assessment is still very heavily based on examinations. Analysis of exam questions, and other assessment tasks also shows that in some cases there may be significant mismatch between the stated learning objectives of subjects and the way in which students are assessed. Application of constructive alignment to design of assessment has the potential to ensure that assessment tasks reflect the learning objectives, and may help encourage academics to consider alternatives to examinations.
Providing A Context For First Year Engineering Students: A Report On Attempts At Course Inversion, Richard A. Dwight, Timothy J. Mccarthy, Anna L. Carew, Brian Ferry
Providing A Context For First Year Engineering Students: A Report On Attempts At Course Inversion, Richard A. Dwight, Timothy J. Mccarthy, Anna L. Carew, Brian Ferry
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
Observations of how engineering students approach learning activities in the earlier years of their degree, report that they do not recognise real-life context that links to the theory they are required to apply in learning tasks. This impacts on their motivation and contributes to a lack of transfer of basic knowledge in the latter years of their degree. A new subject for first year engineering students was introduced at the University of Wollongong in 2005 focusing on real-life engineering problems requiring analysis for effective solution. Students are encouraged to explore the use of basic principles and available analysis techniques relevant …
Globalization Of Engineering Education Via A Virtual University, Devi P. Saini
Globalization Of Engineering Education Via A Virtual University, Devi P. Saini
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
Fierce international competition in engineering services including engineering education has resulted in a number of attempts for globalization of education delivery. Establishment of virtual universities where infrastructure costs are significantly low, have been envisaged as one strategic way of succeeding in educational markets of developing countries. Quite often the perception is that the virtual university is a freeway via which any student in any country can be enrolled and educated. However, the scenario is not that simple. The success of a global virtual university depends on a number of factors including cultural aspects of various societies, government regulations, division of …
Coping With Diverse Student Backgrounds In A First Year Engineering Computing Subject, Ernest Y. Baafi, Michael J. Boyd, Sarah R. Lambert
Coping With Diverse Student Backgrounds In A First Year Engineering Computing Subject, Ernest Y. Baafi, Michael J. Boyd, Sarah R. Lambert
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
Each year, students enrolled in the subject Engineering Computing 1 at the University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia, are surveyed on the first day of classes in order to assess their prior knowledge of the subject content. The survey results show considerable diversity in students’ backgrounds. On average, about 10% are not familiar with the use of personal computers (PCs), 5% have never used e-mail/World Wide Web, 30% have not used spreadsheets and 60% have not programmed in a high level language. However, within these averages are some students with advanced skills and others with quite limited skills. Many of those …
Cultivating Generic Capabilities To Develop Future Engineers: An Examination Of 1st Year Interdisciplinary Engineering Projects At The University Of Sydney, M West, Judy A. Raper
Cultivating Generic Capabilities To Develop Future Engineers: An Examination Of 1st Year Interdisciplinary Engineering Projects At The University Of Sydney, M West, Judy A. Raper
Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)
Looking towards the future it was commented in 1994 that the professional engineer of the twenty-first century will require a degree of flexibility and a technical skills base difficult to imagine at this time. The educational system must be responsive to that need. From this response has emerged a collection of generic attributes and capabilities that are desired of graduates upon completion of their undergraduate engineering degrees. This paper examines some of the ways in which the Advanced Engineering Program at the University of Sydney and particularly the Interdisciplinary Projects undertaken in the first year foster some of these attributes …