Incorporating a Systems Approach into Civil and Environmental Engineering Curricula: Effect on Course Redesign, and Student and Faculty Attitudes

This paper presents a brief overview of the changes made during our department level reform (DLR) process (Grant Title: A Systems Approach for Civil and Environmental Engineering Education: Integrating Systems Thinking, Inquiry-Based Learning and Catamount Community Service-Learning Projects) and some of the effects of these changes on our students and ourselves. The overall goal of the reform has been to have students learn and apply a systems approach to engineering problem solving such that when they become practicing engineers they will develop more sustainable engineering solutions. We have integrated systems thinking into our programs in the follow ing ways; 1) new material has been included in key courses (e.g., the first-year introductory and senior design courses), 2) a sequence of three related environmental and transportation systems courses have been included within the curricula (i.e., Introduction to Systems, Decision Making, and Modeling), and 3) service-learning (SL) projects have been integrated into key required courses as a way of practicing a systems approach. A variety of assessment methods were implemented as part of the reform including student surveys, student focus groups, faculty interviews, and as sessment of student work. Student work in five classes demonstrate that students are learning the systems approach, applying it to engineering problem solving, and that this approach helps

[1]  William C. Oakes,et al.  Service-learning in engineering , 2002, 32nd Annual Frontiers in Education.

[2]  Christine M. Cress,et al.  Learning through Serving: A Student Guidebook for Service-Learning Across the Disciplines , 2005 .

[3]  John W. Creswell,et al.  Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches , 2010 .

[4]  Mandar M. Dewoolkar,et al.  Hands-On Undergraduate Geotechnical Engineering Modules in the Context of Effective Learning Pedagogies, ABET Outcomes, and Our Curricular Reform , 2009 .

[5]  C. Bao Iturbe,et al.  Educating the engineer of 2020: Adapting engineering education to the new century , 2009, IEEE Engineering Management Review.

[6]  Dan W. Butin,et al.  Service-learning in higher education : critical issues and directions , 2005 .

[7]  K. Perreault,et al.  Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches , 2011 .

[8]  M. Patton.  Qualitative research & evaluation methods , 2002 .

[9]  David W. Watkins,et al.  Educating engineers in the sustainable futures model with a global perspective , 2008 .

[10]  D. Lortie,et al.  Schoolteacher: A Sociological Study , 1976 .

[11]  M. Fullan.  The New Meaning of Educational Change , 1990 .

[12]  James J. Duderstadt,et al.  Engineering for a Changing World - A Roadmap to the Future of Engineering Practice, Research, and Education (Flexner) , 2008 .

[13]  J. Duderstadt.  Engineering for a Changing World - The Future of Engineering Practice, Research, and Education (Flexner) , 2008 .

[14]  Liv Haselbach,et al.  Civil Engineering Education and Complex Systems , 2008 .

[15]  Matthew B. Miles,et al.  Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook , 1994 .

[16]  Mandar M. Dewoolkar,et al.  Transferable Skills Development in Engineering Students: Analysis of Service-Learning Impact , 2013 .

[17]  Alan L. Porter,et al.  A Systems Model of Innovation Processes in University STEM Education , 2006 .

[18]  Adrianna Kezar,et al.  The Dynamic Tensions of Service Learning in Higher Education , 2001 .

[19]  Moncef L. Nehdi,et al.  Raising the Bar for Civil Engineering Education: Systems Thinking Approach , 2007 .

[20]  Paul Jowitt.  Sustainability and the formation of the civil engineer , 2004 .

[21]  John Elkington,et al.  Partnerships from cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st‐century business , 1998 .

[22]  Nancy J. Hayden,et al.  The Socially Responsible Engineer: Assessing Student Attitudes of Roles and Responsibilities , 2011 .

[23]  B. Bloom,et al.  Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. Handbook I: Cognitive Domain , 1966 .

[24]  Nathan H. Gartner,et al.  Integrating Service Learning Projects into Civil Engineering Courses , 2007 .

[25]  Gustavo Stubrich.  The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization , 1993 .

[26]  Benjamin S. Bloom,et al.  Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: The Classification of Educational Goals. , 1957 .

[27]  Michael D. Piburn.  Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP):Reference Manual , 2002 .

[28]  Richard M. Felder,et al.  THE FUTURE OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION I. A VISION FOR A NEW CENTURY , 2000 .

[29]  Ann Brady,et al.  AC 2007-1638: INTERDISCIPLINARY INTERNATIONAL SENIOR DESIGN: HOW SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SUPPORT ABET ACCREDITATION , 2007 .

[30]  Sarah L. Ash,et al.  The Articulated Learning: An Approach to Guided Reflection and Assessment , 2004 .

[31]  Donna M. Rizzo,et al.  Incorporating Systems Thinking and Sustainability within Civil and Environmental Engineering Curricula at UVM , 2011 .

[32]  CHARLES M. VEST.  Reframing Professional Development : A Systems Approach to Preparing Engineering Educators to Educate Tomorrow ’ s Engineers , 1970 .