Engineering Commons^™

Study Success And Failure Of Stem Students And The Connection To Their Learning Habits, Fabian Mumenthaler, Patrick Jermann, Cécile Hardebolle, Roland Tormey

Research Papers

With the educational expansion, ever more students start a tertiary degree. At the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, an engineering school, the number of bachelor students increased from 3’713 in 2010 to 6’330 in 2022. However, in Switzerland, a considerable number of students fail to achieve their first university degree – and failure rates are even higher at engineering schools. A weak mathematics background is often identified as the main reason for dropout. In this paper, we are interested to test whether inadequate learning habits are also responsible to some extent for first-year dropouts. To this end, we matched admission …

Preliminary Mapping Of Bachelors’ Research To Enhance Digital Construction In Ireland, Shannon Chance, Barry Mcauley

Research Papers

This paper presents preliminary analyses to assess the content of student research conducted through a digital construction course offered to engineers and built environment professionals in Ireland since 2020. The course aims to upskill employed, mature students with a one-year intensive study period in Building Information Modelling (BIM/Digital Construction), and ultimately enable them to earn an honors-level Bachelor of Science degree. Obtaining this degree requires the student to produce a research dissertation, and the course helps students use research and research-thinking to answer pressing questions they encounter in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) context. The paper briefly discusses context …

Draw Education: Graduate Student Perceptions Of Education Using An Arts-Informed Approach, Lisa Schibelius, Homero Murzi

Research Papers

Education has been shifting to foster better learning environments for students with instructors as co-constructors of knowledge in the classroom. Part of this educational transformation has been accomplished through graduate student education in preparing the next generation of educators to adopt student-centered teaching approaches. Change, however, can be slow, and implementation in the classroom looks different across disciplines. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of graduate students’ perceptions of education when enrolled in a course on contemporary pedagogy. We seek to answer RQ: How do perceptions of education compare between graduate students in engineering and …

Why Do Students Dislike Peer Feedback?, Becky Selwyn, Joel Ross, Sean Lancastle

Research Papers

Engineers are required to communicate in a range of formats, including written reports, but this skill does not come naturally to undergraduates. Typical approaches to teaching writing skills require small class sizes, expert staff, and multiple cycles of feedback. These approaches, while successful, are difficult to scale and do not always result in students being able to transfer their writing skills to other units/topics.

The School of Civil, Aerospace, and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol teaches writing skills mainly within a single 20-credit first-year unit, delivered to 550-650 students per year. Students are required to complete a number …

Time To Rethink Engineering Outreach?, Robin Clark, Jane Andrews, Yiduo Wang, Gill Cooke, Ninna Makrinov

Research Papers

Starting with the research question ‘Does engineering outreach work?’ this paper looks at the often ‘sticky’ subject of the validity of engineering outreach in UK High Schools. It examines how Engineering Outreach Activities are conceptualised by external bodies (RAEng., 2016) and critiques the complex range of practical experiential engineering educational interventions offered in school (Neon, 2023, STEM learning, 2023). Drawing upon the findings of, what is, a small single strand of a much larger multi-method, longitudinal analysis of Engineering Education Outreach Activities provided across the West Midlands region of the UK (LBEEP, 2023) ], the paper provides a unique insight …

Is “Improving The Quality Of Life” The Only Sustainability Issue That Is Related To Engineering? - Exploring Engineering Students’ Conceptions Of Sustainability, Lillian Yun Yung Luk, Inês Direito, John Mitchell, Kate Roach

Research Papers

UNESCO’s (2021) report on engineering for sustainable development has emphasized the critical role of engineers in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, there is a lack of clarity about the conceptualization or definition of sustainability (Moore et al., 2017), which makes it difficult to integrate sustainability into the curriculum. While Walshe (2008) conducted a study on high school students’ conceptions of sustainability in the UK, there appears to be a lack of research conducted in the context of higher education. The study presented in this paper explores engineering students’ understanding of sustainability in engineering and how it is …

Community-Building Among Phd Students In Engineering Education Research: The Sefi Summer School And Aaee Winter School, Greet Langie, Keith Willey, Anne Gardner

Research Papers

Engineering Education Research (EER) is a rapidly evolving and increasingly valued research field. This supports the number of PhD students to grow steadily, but unfortunately, they are often limited to a few within the large engineering faculty/department, having different backgrounds and interests. Additionally, the research methodologies needed by EER researchers are usually different from the classical technical engineering research (TER) methodologies. This translates into a need for specific training and opportunities to get to know each other better in order to promote international collaboration and develop a community of practice. SEFI and the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE) both …

Evaluating The Fairness Of The Undergraduate Supports Survey: A Dif Analysis Of Gender And Year-In-School, Adrian Nat Gentry, Eric Holloway, Julie Martin, Tiantian Li, Kerrie Douglas

Research Papers

It is well established that access to social supports is essential for engineering students’ persistence and yet access to supports varies across groups. Understanding the differential supports inherent in students’ social networks and then working to provide additional needed supports can help the field of engineering education become more inclusive of all students.

Civil And Architectural Engineering Students’ Conceptualization Of Good Engineering And Its Implications For Ethics Education, Madeline Polmear

Research Papers

The ways in which students conceptualise what it means to do good engineering illuminates their values and priorities and shapes their understanding of ethics in engineering. The present study is part of a larger project that is exploring civil and architectural engineering students’ understanding of ethical and societal responsibility and its development via formal and informal learning. Data collection and analysis are ongoing in the larger project, and the present study focuses on eight semi-structured interviews with civil and architectural engineering students at one university in Belgium. The analysis was designed to address how civil and architectural students conceptualise good …

Exploring Engineering Students’ Perception Of Their Career Preparedness In A Systemic Pbl Context In Denmark, Anna Overgaard Markman, Svend Hauekrog Christiansen, Xiangyun Du

Research Papers

The demand for graduates who are well-prepared for employment remains a persistent concern. This study aims to examine the perceptions of career preparedness among engineering students in a systemic problem-based learning environment, employing a gender perspective. The data for this study was collected through two focus group interviews conducted with engineering students in their eighth semester. The collected data was then coded, resulting in the identification of three main categories: (1) professional competence development, (2) career anticipation, and (3) gender role. The findings of the study reveal that collaboration with external companies and the provision of practical support play a …

Empowering Students With Geospatial Solutions Through Challenge Based Learning, Farzaneh Dadrass Javan, Francesco Nex, Farhad Samadzadegan, Bashar Alsadik, Luuk Buuk, Omid Askari

Research Papers

Today, the field of Geospatial Solutions primarily focuses on spatial and mapping data, analysis, and technologies that primarily revolve around place and space. It is considered more as a tool or means rather than the ultimate objective of various interdisciplinary activities, where minimal attention is given to theoretical aspects, equations, and underlying principles of the subject. Conversely, despite advancements in science and technology and a broader audience for geospatial subjects, it is predominantly taught conventionally, disregarding the diverse needs and expectations of students. In recent years, there has been an exploration of innovative educational methods to utilize new pedagogical frameworks …

Job Competencies: Experiential Learning For Engineering Students, Eileen Goold, Roland Roland Vanoostveen

Research Papers

This study investigates the learning of engineering students within the context of career-focused education. Often the technical and mathematical sciences on which engineering courses are built fail to explain the entirety of the landscape of practice. The main objective of this study is to capture various constructs produced by an undergraduate student while relating to his social interactions and experiences in an authentic workplace. The study also explores the student’s responses to real-world contexts. This paper details a single case chosen using purposeful sampling, which investigates the phenomena of a student intern transitioning from engineering education to practice. The presented …

Taking Curriculum Reform To The Next Level: The Need For Decolonising Work In Engineering Education, Gabrielle Orbaek White

Research Papers

As humanity is faced with unparalleled challenges, from the climate emergency to rising inequality, there is a renewed emphasis on the role of engineering professionals to contribute solutions to global problems. However, there is increasing recognition that the way that engineers are trained through higher education is inadequate to prepare them to address these grand challenges. This paper aims to deepen theoretical perspectives on why the engineering education status quo is falling short. Taking a British perspective, I outline how the epistemology and cultural ideologies, or the “episteme,” of engineering continues to shape our discourses within modern day engineering education, …

A Critical Realist Investigation Into The Development Of Engineering Ethics Education, Diana Adela Martin, Eddie Conlon, Brian Bowe

Research Papers

The paper reflects on the use of critical realism as a theoretical lens for examining the provision of ethics in engineering programmes and putting forward recommendations for the development of engineering ethics education. It is based on a large scale 4-year mixed methods study in which 23 engineering programmes from 6 higher education institutions in Ireland participated. The methods used include documentary analysis of programme documents, course syllabus and accreditation reports, interviews with instructors and members of accreditation panels, participant observation at accreditation events and a descriptive statistical analysis of the numerical grade used by engineering programmes to self-assess their …

Should Teaching Guides Be Used As Indicators Of Gender Dimension In A University Degree?, Elisabet Mas De Les Valls, Marta Peña, Noelia Olmedo-Torre, Amaia Lusa

Research Papers

In order to achieve a truly equality society, universities are making significant efforts towards gender mainstreaming. One of the main pillars of this approach is the implementation of a gender dimension in teaching. To assess the degree of progress towards this goal, suitable indicators, both qualitative and quantitative, are desirable. Surveys could be used to gather students’ perceptions or educators’ efforts as indicators, but an underutilised source of information is available in the teaching guides. Teaching guides are understood as those open-access documents where the public can find a subject’s description, goals, and contents, among other universityspecific features.The aim of …

A Cultural-Historical Activity Theory Approach To Studying The Development Of Students' Digital Agency In Higher Education, Lilian Ganduri, Brandon Collier-Reed, Corrinne Shaw

Research Papers

Researching classroom practice requires theoretical resources that can explain the variety inherent in such an activity as well as the dynamic nature of classroom practice. Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) offers the possibility of accounts of social, cultural, and historical aspects of the context and of how students adapt and transform in these contexts. This conceptual paper engages with the relevance and utility of CHAT for researching student practices in a course as an activity system.

A Look At Vocational And Academic Student Backgrounds In Ability To Solve Practical Problems, Gareth Thomson, Mark Prince

Research Papers

While most students in the UK will enter engineering degrees with traditional academic qualifications, a significant proportion will come from backgrounds which use vocational based qualifications to gain entry to degree level study. Indicators show that students from lower socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to be among those using vocational qualifications to gain entry to University and may not progress as well. This is often linked to difficulties in traditional academic elements of the degree such as mathematics where both the content and learning approaches are much less familiar to students with a vocational background. These academic skills are not …

Measuring Social Impacts In Engineering Education To Improve Sustainability Skills, Elisabeth Nierle, Martin Pieper

Research Papers

In times of social climate protection movements, such as Fridays for Future, the priorities of society, industry and higher education are currently changing. The consideration of sustainability challenges is increasing. In the context of sustainable development, social skills are crucial to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, the impact that educational activities have on people, communities and society is therefore coming to the fore. Research has shown that people with high levels of social competence are better able to manage stressful situations, maintain positive relationships and communicate effectively. They are also associated with better academic performance …

Interconnectedness Of Geometric, Linguistic, And Algebraic Thinking In Student Performance Measures: An Association Rules Approach, Bence Sipos, Brigitta Szilágyi

Research Papers

Assessing student performance is crucial in education for evaluating knowledge acquisition and competency development. Traditional grading systems often overlook the interconnectedness of learning domains, which can provide valuable insights into student understanding. This study investigates the associations between geometric, linguistic, and algebraic thinking and their impact on student performance measures and grading using association rules. We analyzed a dataset comprising student responses to geometric, linguistic, and algebraic questions by applying association rule mining techniques. The extracted rules were used to evaluate question similarity, revealing deeper insights into student performance and problem-solving strategies. Our findings demonstrate significant interconnectedness between geometric, linguistic, …

Dc Grid Power Congestion Management Laboratory Experiments, Holly Engelbrecht, Diego Zuidervliet, Peter Van Duijsen

Research Papers

In the process of the electrical energy transition, a new curriculum for bachelor electrical engineering is developed. A new development is DC grids, as they are shown to be promising in solving the power congestion management problem. Particularly when adding solar power, battery storage, and load appliances including power electronics, DC grids are replacing AC grids, especially in micro-grids. The development of new laboratory experiments using three educational methods is described in this paper. First, theory combined with online calculation tools is used to prepare the students for the subject. Second, the experiment has to be prepared using simulation tools, …

Exploring Racialized Ideologies About Latino/A/X Engineering Students In The United States Southwest Region, Joel Alejandro Mejia

Research Papers

Although efforts in the United States (U.S.) to improve the participation and representation of minoritized populations in engineering have increased, there is a stagnant representation of Latinos/as/xs in engineering spaces. Given that a historical context of engineering education for Latinos/as/xs in the U.S. is limited in the engineering education research literature, this paper provides a description of the historical educational landscape of Latinos/as/xs in the U.S. Southwest region and connects that sociohistorical context to the current realities of Latinos/as/xs in the region through their testimonios. The U.S. Southwest is home to the largest Latino population in the U.S., who also …

Exploring The Link Between Spatial And Communication Skills In Engineering Students, John William Lynch, Manjeera Vinnakota, Sheryl Sorby, Tj Murphy, Kelsey Shannon

Research Papers

Industry leaders rarely remark that the technical skills of engineering students are lacking; however, they frequently indicate that new engineers should be better prepared in communication skills, particularly written communication skills. In contrast, the visualization ability, or spatial skills, of engineering majors are typically excellent. Prior research has demonstrated that spatial ability is a significant predictor for graduating from STEM fields, particularly in engineering. This paper is part of a larger project that is exploring whether these two phenomena – poor written communication skills and well-developed spatial skills – are linked. In other words, is there a negative correlation between …

Emerging Trends, Approaches And Challenges In Engineering Education In The Uk, Stella Fowler, Ines Direito, Kate Bellingham, John Mitchell

Research Papers

Worldwide, engineering educators are searching for approaches, pedagogies and change strategies to develop programmes that will equip their graduates to be successful engineers, effective engineering leaders and catalysts for social 1 S. Fowler, s.fowler@epc.ac.uk development. In the UK, focus largely rests on new pathway initiatives and new Higher Education (HE) institutions. There is little shared understanding of the established sector’s evolution from a maths and science heavy curricula to the innovative and world-leading models of engineering education found in the UK HE sector today.

How Do Students Use Basic Aspects Of Functions When Learning Mathematics In A Chemistry Context?, Lars Friedhoff, Jürgen Roth, Julia Rausenberger

Research Papers

The mathematical concept of function is challenging for students in first-year undergraduate mathematics courses, especially when the concept is applied in the context of STEM courses. This difficulty is often due to a lack of conceptual understanding of functions. From a normative perspective, conceptual understanding of functions involves 1) dealing with the different representations of a function, namely table, graph, analytical term and verbal description, while 2) considering three different aspects of functions, namely correspondence, covariation and object. Previous research suggests that the covariation aspect is essential for achieving a sophisticated conceptual understanding of functions. In order to promote the …

Assessing Engineering Students Preparedness For Lifelong Learning And Self-Reflection Competency, Rani Dujardin, Lynn Van Den Broeck, Greet Langie

Research Papers

Lifelong learning is becoming increasingly important in the field of engineering. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are responsible for the transfer of field-specific knowledge, but also for preparing students for LLL. To do so, HEIs need a clear view of the extent to which engineering students are prepared for LLL. Research suggests two approaches in the assessment of LLL, namely (1) a holistic approach measuring general preparedness for LLL and (2) a specific approach measuring a subcompetency of LLL. The current study combines both approaches by using Kirby’s lifelong learning scale (LLS) and Grant’s Self-Reflection and Insight Scale (SRIS). Firstly, a …

Student Perspectives On Sustainability In Engineering Education: Multiple Case Study Of European Bachelor's Programs In Industrial Engineering And Management, Francisca Trigueiros, Jenni Kaipainen, Frederico Silva, Niklas Geising, Erdem Ata Tosun

Research Papers

The global sustainability crisis is calling for engineers to take action. To enable and empower engineers to address this crisis, there must be a change in engineering education. Given the industry's key role in not only causing but also solving this sustainability crisis, it is especially crucial to improve how sustainability is addressed in industrial engineering and management (IEM) education. This paper examines (1) to which extent European IEM degrees are covering sustainability; (2) European IEM students’ motivations to learn and work with sustainability topics; and (3) their perceptions of their degree’s contribution to their knowledge and motivation regarding sustainability; …

Engineering Science Students’ Self-Regulation: A Baseline, Shan Tuyaerts, Tinne De Laet, Lynn Van Den Broeck, Greet Langie

Research Papers

Today’s society is characterized by swift technological advancements. Engineers cannot solely rely on what they learned at university, as new technologies pop up quickly. They need to participate in lifelong learning (LLL) in order to keep up with the state-of-the-art. Self-regulation is a core competency for lifelong learning that can be used as a proxy for it in an educational context. This study aims to establish a baseline for engineering students’ self-regulation. Their levels are measured by the Self-Reflection and Insight Scale (SRIS), consisting of three subscales: need for self-reflection, engagement in self-reflection, and insight. 1128 students enrolled at KU …

Experiences And Learning Outcomes Of Using Virtual Reality In Building Services Engineering Education, Juho Posio, Petteri Maljamäki, Marko Haavikko, Tauno Tepsa, Heli Väätäjä

Research Papers

Virtual Reality (VR) is a promising learning environment in vocational and higher education as it enables learning by doing. We developed a digital twin (DT) for learning the most common maintenance procedures of an air-to-water heat pump using game engine technology, targeted for students and professionals in the building services engineering industry. 22 HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) students participated in a user study to evaluate their experience with the DT, their usage preferences, and learning outcomes. Results of an online posttest questionnaire show that participants found the use of the DT easy and useful for learning maintenance procedures, …

Staff Experiences Of Leading Large-Scale Multi-Departmental Project-Based Learning For Year 1 Engineering Students, Fiona Truscott, Emanuela Tilley, John Mitchell, Abel Nyamapfene

Research Papers

There is increasing consensus that Engineering programmes need to include space for skills learning, particularly in interdisciplinary contexts. Active learning methods, such as project-based learning, are the gold standard for teaching interdisciplinary skills. However much of the literature on these approaches focuses on relatively small class sizes, making the application in larger contexts seem unfeasible. The Integrated Engineering Programme (IEP) at University College London (UCL), is one of the most comprehensive and largest applications of active learning methodologies within undergraduate engineering curricula in the UK. A key part is the cornerstone module, Engineering Challenges. This first-year undergraduate module aims to …

Sources Fostering Academic Well-Being: Students' Perspectives In A Pbl Context, Juebei Chen, Shaoping Bai, Youmen Chaaban, Xiangyun Du

Research Papers

In a post-pandemic learning era, student academic well-being emerges to the attention of educational researchers. Referring to students’ thoughts and behaviors that contribute to doing well in an educational context and their academic life satisfaction, student academic well-being has a significant influence on their recruitment and retention, learning experience, academic achievement, and competence development. However, while academic well-being has been regarded as an important indicator of student persistence in their current study and learning outcomes, limited studies have explored engineering students’ academic well-being and other supportive factors in engineering education. While several studies have examined how well-being is constituted and …