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Session 2453

e-engineering@odu.edu Preparing Engineers for an Interconnected World -The Freshman Year- David A. Dryer, Derya A. Jacobs, William Swart, Han P. Bao College of Engineering and Technology Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23529

Abstract

This paper discusses how one academic institution is transforming its engineering and technology curriculum to better prepare students for a changing world. Changes in the engineering workplace require engineers to have skills that will enable them to work in virtual environments caused by the globalization of enterprises. To help address this educational challenge, we designed and implemented a pilot freshman engineering and technology course as a first step towards preparing engineering students for global distributed collaborative environments. The design, implementation and the assessment results of the pilot course are discussed in this paper.

I. Introduction

Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, has a mission to become the premier international university of the Commonwealth of Virginia1. In an effort to consolidate and expand the University’s emerging reputation as a globally focused institution, the university continues to build and refine its internationally oriented curriculum across all of its colleges; and, through strategic partnerships it provides opportunities to serve the global interests of the community, region, Commonwealth, and nation. The College of Engineering and Technology has embraced the University’s mission and has taken the initiative to transform its curriculum to better prepare students to become successful engineers and technologists in any global and multicultural environment.

During the past five years, the effects of globalization on the practice of engineering and technology have dramatically changed. Increasingly, the teamwork and the tools of engineering are moving to the Internet2. The importance of co-location and physical proximity of partners and team members has diminished in relation to the importance of connectivity and bandwidth. Through the use of advanced communication and information technologies, engineers and other project team members are now functioning in an interconnected world. They can collaborate in virtual environments that transcend time and space. To be effective in these virtual, or advanced engineering environments, engineers and

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright  2001, American Society for Engineering Education

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Bao, H., & Dryer, D., & Jacobs, D., & Swart, W. (2001, June), Preparing Engineers For An Interconnected World Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--9666