Using a Virtual Engineering Internship to Model the Complexity of Engineering Design Problems

这个工程教育研究项目将使用网络学习工具来理解工程设计问题的数学复杂性与其认知复杂性之间的关系。现有的模拟游戏将用于了解学生的设计选择，并将其与学生的知识、技能、价值观和作为工程师的身份联系起来。然后可以使用详细的理论模型来确定学生理解的各种结构如何决定他们如何参与工程设计问题。设计技能是工程工作的基础，因此更好地理解学生所知道的和他们如何设计之间的关系可以为课程和教学法的发展提供信息。该项目更广泛的意义和重要性在于探索网络学习模拟，这些模拟具有可扩展和可定制的潜力，可用于不同的工程学位课程。使用模拟来教授设计思维的潜在优势之一是能够满足不同群体的需求，从而提高他们在工程学位课程中的保留率。该项目与NSF的战略目标重叠，即通过培养具有新能力和专业知识的工程人才来改变前沿。此外，通过支持创新学习系统的发展，NSF实现了为社会创新的目标。

This engineering education research project will use a cyber-learning tool to understand the relationship between the mathematical complexity of an engineering design problem and their cognitive complexity. An existing simulation game will be used to understand student design choices and relate them to students' knowledge, skills, values, and identity as an engineer. A detailed theoretical model can then be used to determine how various constructs of student understanding determines how they engage with engineering design problems. Design skills are fundamental to engineering work, thus a better understanding of the relationship between what students know and how they design can inform curricula and development of pedagogy. The broader significance and importance of this project is the exploration of cyber-learning simulations that have the potential to be scalable and customizable to different engineering degree programs. One of the potential advantages of using simulations to teach design thinking is the ability to address the needs of different groups to improve their retention in engineering degree programs. This project overlaps with NSF's strategic goals of transforming the frontiers through preparation of an engineering workforce with new capabilities and expertise. Additionally NSF's goal of innovating for society is enabled by supporting the development of innovative learning systems.