Engineering as a Socio-technical Process: Case-Based Learning from the Example of Wind Technology Development

Abstract

This chapter describes an example of teaching engineering students social perspectives of engineering by using the case example of wind technology. It is part of the philosophy of engineering course taught to undergraduate engineering students at Aarhus University. The case of wind technology development is suited to discuss a large number of different social issues related to engineering, such as engineering approaches (science-based versus practice-oriented), the role of engineering styles and traditions, forms of learning and interaction in engineering, requirements and problems of engineering communication, innovation strategies, research policies, market structures and ideologies. The case of wind technology shows that engineering is more than developing technical artifacts. It is a way of “mixing with the world” in a much broader sense than reflected in many engineering curricula.