Teaching Communication, Interpersonal and Decision-Making Skills in Engineering Courses Supported by Technology

Alvarez C.; Nussbaum M.; Recabarren, M.; Gomez, F; Radovic D.

Abstract

Communication, interpersonal and decision-making skilb are essential for engineering work and should be explicitly incorporated in engineering curricula. We have tested a constructivist, technology-supported collaborative strategy in engineering courses that is aimed at supporting the teaching of regular subject matter as well as fostering the development of students' communication and social skills. In this strategy, students communicate face-to-face through a social network while supporting their work with handhelds interconnected through a wireless network. Information transfers from the social network to the handheld network and vice versa, meaning that collaborators maintain face-to-face interaction at all times while also being able to obtain and retrieve information. To implement this strategy, a technology tool named CollPad was created and applied in two computer science courses. The qualitative results of the experience show that students found the tool effective in creating an environment that promotes communication, interpersonal and decision-making skills. © 2009 TEMPUS Publicatìons.

Más información

Título según WOS: Teaching Communication, Interpersonal and Decision-Making Skills in Engineering Courses Supported by Technology
Título según SCOPUS: Teaching communication, interpersonal and decision-making skills in engineering courses supported by technology
Título de la Revista: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
Volumen: 25
Número: 4
Editorial: Dublin Institute of Technology Tempus Publications
Fecha de publicación: 2009
Página de inicio: 655
Página final: 664
Idioma: English
Notas: ISI, SCOPUS