Breadcrumb Links:

LTERC Seminar Series Presents

Engineering Education Research: Emergence of a discipline, a personal journey and perspectives in the field

Presenter: Professor Joachim (Jo) Walther (University of Georgia)

Resources

View the presentation

Abstract

This seminar presents engineering education research as a dynamic interdisciplinary field that is currently in a process of formation and self-definition. The exploration of this changing landscape is attempted by tracing my personal journey from a disciplinary background in mechanical engineering to being part of an interdisciplinary research endeavour at the boundaries of engineering and the fine arts.

Along this journey I give an overview of the intent, the methods and the diverse aspects of investigation within the field. This leads into the presentation of my dissertation work with the Catalyst Research Centre for Society and Technology at the University of Queensland as an example of an interpretive enquiry into engineering students' professional formation. This sets the context for my work with the Collaborative Lounge for Understanding Society and Technology through Educational Research (CLUSTER) at the University of Georgia (USA). As an example of our work I present the development and subsequent research of an interdisciplinary Synthesis and Design Studio series within a new environmental engineering program at UGA.

Date of Presentation

3 August 2009