Title Computing and Undergraduate Engineering: Implementation of a Reformed Curriculum that Integrates Computational Thinking across Engineering Disciplines 1. Project Description Computation for engineering cannot simply be addressed with one or two courses in computing, but must be integrated as part of an engineer's training to become a "Holistic Engineer." We will introduce a series of authentic engineering problems derived from industry that require the use of various computing concepts for their solution. These problems will be part of the disciplinary courses (i.e., Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, etc.) but will be developed in consultation with stakeholders from industry, employees, and faculty from engineering disciplines and computer science to ensure that the problems are representative of engineering practice, disciplinary context, and computing concepts. We will choose authentic engineering problems from industry that are appropriate to a variety of courses and could be used with varying degrees of complexity depending upon the course level. First-year courses would use simplified versions of problems. As students progress through their programs, the problems would become more complex. However, the underlying computing concepts would be addressed across the various courses and throughout the degree program. 1.1 Objective Set with CPACE work. To examine the engineering curricula and implement reformed curricula that integrate computational thinkingthat is aligned to industry needs across engineering departmental courses. 1.2 Background Engineering schools are responsible for the preparation of a workforce with the analytical reasoning and practical skills that will allow them to deal with complex forms of professional practice in a global environment that is constantly changing. Engineering professionals recognize the need to move from an educational scheme that primarily emphasizes the acquisition of technical knowledge distantly followed by the contextual social professional practice to an approach that allows students to integrate conceptual knowledge, technical skills and professional practice. "Computational Thinking" 'represents a universally applicable attitude and skill set' fundamental for everyone [2]. In the context of the engineering practice, computational thinking involves solving problems and designing systems by drawing on fundamental computer science concepts. Computational thinking includes but is not restricted to - Formulating difficult problems into problems that can be solved by reduction, transformation or simulation - Thinking recursively - Using abstraction and decomposition to address challenging design problems - Using heuristic reasoning in the face of uncertainty. 1.3 Results from CPACE project 1.3.1 Process 1.3.2 Integration of engineering workforce skill set and computing principles 1.4 Proposed activity Preliminary efforts in ChE and CvE. in the case of LCC the closest is Louise's CPSC131 (Numerical Techniques & MATLAB) which transfers as EGR102. 1.4.1 Goals 1.4.2 Specific aims Should this read Objectives based on the NSF RFP format? (Cindee) 1.4.3 Outcomes 1.4.4 Activities to be undertaken
Keep AB members and their expertise 1.6 Mentoring activities
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CPACE - An NSF CPATH Project > Project Meetings > Agenda January 15, 2009 > CPATH Grant Submission Preparation >