IT as information technology in CE and instructional technology in education

Abstract

The fast-moving world of information technology is greatly changing the practice of civil engineering. Thus, it is generating changing needs and opportunities in education. These needed changes are both in program content and in delivery. The authors have conducted a NSF Department-Level Reform Planning Grant on the topic of "Information Technology in the Integrated Civil Engineering Curriculum", and this paper reflects findings from this effort. The primary emphasis of this paper is on the utilization of Information Technology within the civil engineering profession and in the large-scale products and systems the civil engineering profession provides, operates and maintains. Instructional technology, both general and IT is noted more as a part of implementing changes within the educational environment. Information technology as utilized in CE can be placed into four general categories. (1) personal IT/computing tools - which all graduates and civil engineers need at a fairly high level of proficiency, (2) civil engineering systems tools such networks, data structures, highly interactive design, supervisory control and data acquisition systems, decision support systems and other IT tools applied to intelligent transportation systems, NDE, environmental monitoring and control, smart buildings, etc., (3) IT-system components - sensors, actuators, communication links, etc., used in remote systems, and (4) IT tools used in instruction, presentation, sales, and general communications. The future graduate cannot be an expert in all of these areas. The paper explores which IT topics need to be addressed at what level of proficiency (recognition, understanding, or ability) and how this might be achieved in revised courses or academic programs.