Conference: Advancing Engineering Education through Integrated Models

This project aims to serve the national interest by advancing our understanding of integrated models of engineering education. Integrated Engineering is emerging across the world. One commonality among programs is a desire to innovate in ways not seen as possible within traditional engineering disciplines. What exactly is integrated into students’ educational experience varies, and includes things like multiple disciplines, professional skills and mindsets, contextualization and authenticity, innovative pedagogical approaches, liberal arts, student autonomy, and specified values. The pedagogical approaches seen in integrated engineering programs offer promise for truly transforming engineering education. These student-centered approaches align with caring pedagogies and provide sustainable infrastructure for supporting diverse student experiences. Innovation in engineering education can be challenging to implement and to sustain. Hence building community support for innovation is crucial to sustainable success. The goal of the proposed work is to 1) publish a collection of case studies of integrated engineering programs that address themes and challenges named during the 2024 Integrated Engineering Education International Symposium and 2) gather educators from around the United States to identify and describe additional successful implementations of integrated and integrative models in US engineering education programs. The workshop will result in updated approaches to address challenges for innovation as well as further opportunities for creating communities of practice to support innovation in engineering education. These will be broadly disseminated through a summarizing white paper, expanding knowledge of integrated engineering programs and best practices for innovation. The NSF IUSE: EDU Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.