Philosophy in Engineering Education: Developing Reflective Engineers Through Philosophical Concepts Embedded in Autobiographical Stories

• In Event: Exploring Teaching and Learning in the Professions

Abstract

Engineering programs provide engineering students with few opportunities to reflect on what it means to be an engineer. This paper’s purpose is to explore two philosophical concepts of Bildung and askēsis applied in a graduate engineering course as a way to develop reflective engineers. With 20 students enrolled in the course, the data sources included 20 written autobiographies with companion artworks, 20 reflective papers, and 14 individual interviews. Using narrative analysis, we found three main themes: personal growth through Askēsis, the power of sharing autobiographies, and the meaningfulness of autobiographical assignments for Bilding development. We argue that Bildung needs to be implemented in the engineering classroom on a constant and consistent basis through a philosophical exercise of thought, askēsis.

Authors

• Jeong-Hee Kim, Texas Tech University
  Presenting Author

• Ngan Thi Thu Nguyen, Texas Tech University
  Presenting Author

• Ryan C. Campbell, Texas Tech University
  Presenting Author

• Roman Taraban, Texas Tech University
  Presenting Author

• Danny Reible, Texas Tech University
  Presenting Author