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How do engineering students build their understanding of their role?

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posted on 2022-10-20, 23:38 authored by Julie Myers

This qualitative research explored how 2nd and 3rd year engineering students build their understanding of their role as engineers. A 2-day workshop was created to examine the impact of several factors (perspectives/differences between people, communication, team and organisational dynamics, and project management), that were believed to be fundamental to this understanding. Combined phenomenographic and experimental frameworks guided the research design and qualitative research methods were used to collect and analyse students’ opinion data. 32 volunteer engineering students participated (13 second year, 19 third year). The research identified three key findings: 1. A student’s understanding of their role as an engineer progresses from a discipline/siloed level to holistic/system thinking level. 2. An understanding of workplace perspectives combined with organisational structure and dynamics (which showed the interconnectedness of the workplace and the importance of interpersonal skills and teamwork) was the most influential factor in their progression to the Holistic level. 3. Providing a holistic overview of a complete project that demonstrated perspective/ design thinking as well as organisational dynamics was an important pedagogical approach in building students understanding of their role as engineers.

History

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. The current situation in engineering education -- Chapter 3. Methodology -- Chapter 4. Results, analysis and discussion -- Chapter 5. Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Appendices

Notes

A thesis submitted to Macquarie University for the degree of Master of Research

Awarding Institution

Macquarie University

Degree Type

Thesis MRes

Degree

Thesis (MRes), Macquarie University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, 2021

Department, Centre or School

School of Engineering

Year of Award

2021

Principal Supervisor

Ray Eaton

Additional Supervisor 1

Graham Town

Rights

Copyright: Julie Myers Copyright disclaimer: https://www.mq.edu.au/copyright-disclaimer

Language

English

Extent

90 pages

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