Experiential Learning in Engineering Education

Experiential Learning presents an evolving form of education that fundamentally involves "learning by doing" and having students reflect on the work. The book discusses these recent developments pertaining to the use of experiential learning in engineering education. Covering a range of innovations in experiential learning, the book explores development in laboratories, in-class and problem-based learning, project work and society-based aspects, including Indigenous elements in the curriculum. It includes case studies and examples sourced from institutions around the world.Features Focuses on recent and practical aspects of implementing experiential learning to help improve engineering education Offers an examination of the undergraduate experience, which leads to professional certification Includes a chapter on lessons in other professional education areas, such as medicine and health care, business and social workA broad readership will find value in this book, including faculty who teach undergraduate engineering courses, engineering education researchers, industry partners that provide co-op experience and developers of training modules for practicing engineers.

“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 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.