Title: Technology in engineering education – essential for sustainable approaches to global technical challenges

Authors: Theodore F. Wiesner, William Y. Lan

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, 6th and Canton Lubbock, TX 79409-3121, USA. ' College of Education, Texas Tech University, Box 41071, Lubbock, TX 79409-1071, USA

Abstract: The complexity of challenges faced by global societies will require sophisticated technical solutions. A dramatic expansion of knowledge is expected that could lead to new technologies to address global problems. However, knowledge generation is challenging traditional education that focuses on transmission from teacher to students. Information technology can improve engineering education in three important ways: multimedia instruction; virtual team projects; class management tools. Perhaps the most important factor in educating engineers to meet challenges to sustainability is the development of the professional engineering educator, an instructor who is able to adopt the latest computer-based instructional technology.

Keywords: information technology; engineering education; sustainable technology; sustainability; sustainable development; instructional technology; global technical challenges; electronic courseware; course management software; virtual classrooms; multimedia courseware; nonlinear learning; educational technology; professional engineering educators; virtual teams; class management; e-learning; online learning.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2008.020275

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2008 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.212 - 233

Published online: 14 Sep 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article