Supporting Collaboration in Engineering Education: Technology and Pedagogy at Work

• In Event: Working Collaboratively in Professions to Improve Training and Practice

Abstract

Among the ABET program outcomes (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), the “ability to function on multidisciplinary teams” and “an ability to communicate effectively” have been validated by research (Jonassen, Strobel, and Lee, 2006). Collaboration is often required in engineering courses, but many faculty – who have never worked as an engineering in industry – have not had experiences or training that would allow them to effectively support students’ ability to collaborate. This study examines the use of an online collaboration environment to support collaborative design and problem solving activities in a junior level engineering course. Results are encouraging as the use of the environment was significantly related to individual student learning outcomes.

Authors

• Rose M. Marra, University of Missouri

• David H. Jonassen, University of Missouri - Columbia

• Christopher Larsen, University of Missouri - Columbia

• Naien Tang, University of Missouri - Columbia

• Linsey Steege, University of Wisconsin - Madison