Preparing students for intensive global fieldwork

This paper argues that by carrying out an integrated series of technical investigations and cultural activities in a foreign country, students can have a realistic experience of global engineering field work. This work-in-progress explores the conception, design, implementation and preliminary review of a week-long study abroad course that simulates an intensive field investigation in a remote context, something that most practicing engineers experience. The course provided a series of scaffolded experiences designed to enable the students to produce authentic engineering artifacts, demonstrate professional skill formation (impromptu oral presentations; use of unfamiliar facilities), increase cultural awareness, and begin to develop professional habits (critical incident reflection). Preliminary analysis of the initial offering of this course suggests that while many of these goals were achieved, the students are still processing the experience as a whole.