Pedagogical Tools to Enhance the Cognitive Skills of (Humanitarian) Design Engineers: The Rationale

Abstract

This is the first of a series of papers which seek to elaborate upon the cognitive and metacognitive skills which industry has identified as needed by engineers and the descriptions of the pedagogical tools to better prepare the prospective engineers for the careers that lie ahead of them.  The papers describe an alternative way of conceptualizing the engineering curriculum by shifting the focus from learning engineering as a body of disparate knowledge consisting of science courses, engineering science courses, and analysis courses to understanding engineering as a way of thinking – promoting deeper conceptual understanding of core fundamental ideas and preparing students to be lifelong learners.  Focus is placed on the pedagogy for enhancing the cognitive aspects of thinking including adaptive expertise, self-regulated learning, problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, metacognition and workplace thinking –incorporating engaged scholarship at its core.