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Session 3215

Role of Computing: Educators' Perspective

Robert J. O’Neill, Robert M. Henry, Thomas A. Lenox United States Military Academy/University of New Hampshire/United States Military Academy

Abstract

Two surveys were conducted by the Education Committee of the Technical Council on Computer Practices (TCCP) of ASCE during 1995 to assess the computing needs of the civil engineering profession. The two surveys were targeted at two different segments within the civil engineering profession: educators and practitioners. This paper presents the findings of the survey directed to civil engineering educators concerning their perspective of the current role of computing in civil engineering. This survey is a follow-up from one conducted by members of the Education Committee in 1987. The presentation of the results includes an analysis of some of the changes in the survey results since 1987.

Introduction

Many attempts have been made to define the computer skills required of civil engineering graduates. 3 In 1985 Worcester Polytechnic Institute conducted a survey to examine current microcomputer applications in civil engineering practice. In 1986 the Education Committee of the Technical Council on Computer Practices (TCCP) of ASCE conducted a survey concerning computer resources and attitudes towards 2 computing in civil engineering programs . Another task committee of the TCCP Education Committee conducted a survey in 1989 to assess the current computing curriculum in civil engineering education and the 6 computing needs in civil engineering practice . In 1991 Baker and Rix of Georgia Institute of Technology conducted a survey to obtain information that would enable them to better assess the role of computing within 1 the curricula . In 1992 Henry summarized the information collected by these surveys and discussed a 4 philosophy of integration into the civil engineering curriculum .

The steady improvements and advances in computer technology necessitate that these studies be revisited frequently. Surveys must be modified and repeated on a regular basis to ensure that the needs of the profession are being properly defined. It is particularly important that educators know the requirements of professional practice so that curriculum changes can be made when appropriate.

In the Fall of 1995, two surveys were conducted by the Education Committee of the Technical Council on Computer Practices (TCCP) of ASCE to assess the computing needs of the civil engineering profession. The two surveys were targeted at two different segments within the civil engineering profession: educators and practitioners. The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of the survey directed to civil engineering educators concerning their perspective of the current role of computing in civil engineering. A 7 companion paper will be published to address the findings of the practitioner's survey .

1996 ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings

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O'Neill, R. J., & Henry, R. M., & Lenox, T. (1996, June), Role Of Computing: Educators' Perspective Paper presented at 1996 Annual Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. 10.18260/1-2--6271