Conference paper 2022

A collaborative autoethnography on cultivating innovative attitudes in undergraduate engineers through a co-curricular initiative

2022 IEEE IFEES World Engineering Education Forum - Global Engineering Deans Council, WEEF-GEDC 2022 - Conference Proceedings
Conference
Abstract

Innovative attitudes are critical affective learning outcomes for engineering graduates. However, affective learning requires immersive environments and ill-defined problem contexts which are difficult to create in traditional curricula due to resource and time constraints. The Aircraft for Rhino and Environmental Defense (AREND) project is a long-term, co-curricular learning initiative that has succeeded in cultivating innovative attitudes in students. Through collaborative autoethnography, we identify that immersion in an authentic innovation process and a project-based learning environment foster attitudes of experimentation, risk-taking, adaptation, alternatives seeking, self-reliance, implementation, persistence, user-focus, being visionary, being passionate, leadership, being a team player and being persistent. The paper offers practical insights to educators wishing to create similar experiential learning environments. © 2022 IEEE.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Project-Based Learning Collaborative autoethnography affective development co-curricular innovative attitudes

Index Keywords

Learning outcome Curricula Risk management Project based learning Computer aided instruction Learning environments Affective learning Affective development Co-curricular Collaborative autoethnography Curricular initiatives Innovative attitude Undergraduate engineers
Author Affiliations
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, School of Management and Marketing, University of Waikato, Hamilton, WKO, New Zealand
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
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10 International Journal of Engineering Education, (2016)
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