Experiential Learning in Engineering Education

Alan L Steele is the Director for the Discovery Centre for Undergraduate Research and Engagement at Carleton University. He earned his PhD in Physics at the University of Salford in 1993. He is also a founding member of the Canadian Engineering Education Association. His research is centered around general engineering education, learning spaces, nonlinear optical fibre, optical switching, and microcontroller systems for biomedical and unmanned airborne system.

• 1. Introduction.  2. Education Theory and Experiential Learning.  3. Laboratories.  4. In-class Experiential Learning.  5. Problem Based Learning, CDIO and Project Based Learning.  6. Projects.  7. Cooperative Education.  8. Beyond the Curriculum: Undergraduate Research and Student Societies.  9. Lessons from Other Professional Programs.  10. Engineering and Society.  11. Final Pieces and Conclusion.

“Steele’s excellent examination of pedagogical theories and learning approaches provides the grounding to help understand the ‘how’ of learning and teaching modes of experiential learning and the ‘why’ of its importance in supporting student development of critical and creative thinking, and the capacity for life-long learning. The inclusion of diverse examples, applications and case studies allows us as readers to re-imagine our own classroom practice, and to help students make connections between different forms of knowledge.” - Dorothy Missingham, The University of Adelaide“Alan Steele provides a thorough treatment of experiential learning in engineering education, covering all the key concepts and approaches, while also offering lots of references in support of them. Combining everything in one text makes for an invaluable resource for any engineering educator, and it’s all the better that Steele incorporates ideas and case studies from around the globe.” - Sean Maw, University of Saskatchewan