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Technical Problem Solving with MATLAB for 21st Century Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology Programs

Abstract

In order for engineering technology students to cope and to thrive in the highly competitive 21st century global world – a world transformed by technology and human ingenuity, it is important for them to develop such essential skills as interpersonal and self-directional (emotional intelligence), creative thinking and problem solving, information processing, effective team communication and collaboration, and effective real-world computing skills. This paper explores the design, implementation, and assessment of a new course called Problem Solving with MATLAB which was designed to use the MATLAB and other computer information processing tools to develop students creative problem solving skills in a 21st century context with the use of relevant and real world examples and applications in the areas of mathematics, physics, environment, electrical, electronics, software, and more.

I. Introduction

Before we entered the 21st century, we witnessed many testimonies and reports calling for reform of our educational system to educate workforce with proper soft and creative technical skills needed to compete in the global economy. These include but not limited to “Testimony on Educating Our Force with Technology Skills Needed to Compete in the 21st Century,” presented on March 24, 1998, by John R. Reinert, past President of IEEE-USA, to United States House of Representatives1, which stressed the critical importance of education, training and lifelong learning and called for the government to help developing the critical analytical, communications and problem solving skills that people need to succeed in a fast changing, technology driven workforce; 21st Century Learning Outcomes Project2 which involving 16 community colleges and identify the following 8 competency areas: communication, computation, community, critical thinking and problem solving, information and management, interpersonal, personal, and technology skills; Microsoft’s Educating the 21st Century Citizen – White Paper3 urges the use of 21st century tools including computers, software, networking media tools and other technologies to develop learning skills (process-oriented and cognitive skills) including information/communication skills, thinking/problem solving skills, and interpersonal/self- direction skills; and in 1999, Technology Accreditation Commission/Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (TAC/ABET) approved its new accreditation criteria called TC2K4, in which the criterion 2 – program outcomes specify eleven attributes graduates of engineering technology programs are expected to have: a. an appropriate mastery of the knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of their disciplines, b. an ability to apply current knowledge and adapt to emerging applications of mathematics, science, engineering and technology, c. an ability to conduct, analyze and interpret experiments and apply experimental results to improve processes,

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Lin, P., & Lin, M. (2006, June), Technical Problem Solving With Matlab For 21 St Century Electrical And Computer Engineering Technology Programs Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--523