Targeted Infusion Project: Development of a Knowledge-Based System for Integrating Artificial Intelligence into the Undergraduate Engineering Curriculum

历史黑人学院和大学本科项目(HBCU-UP)通过有针对性的灌输项目，支持基于证据的创新模式和方法的开发、实施和研究，以改善HBCU本科生的准备和成功，使他们能够攻读STEM研究生课程和/或职业。德克萨斯南方大学的这个项目旨在将创新的电气和计算机工程专业人工智能(AI)工具与基于问题的学习方法注入传统的工程问题解决程序，以弥合当前课程的差距，提高工程学学生解决问题和批判性思维的能力，让他们接触到新技术，为他们适应多样化和多学科的劳动力需求做好准备，并吸引和鼓励学生在工程领域攻读专业工程执照或研究生课程。这些活动和战略是以证据为基础的，形成和总结评估的强有力计划是项目的一部分。项目有五个主要目标：1)开发一个互动和全面的智能数据库，以记录、比较和分析土木工程领域的尖端人工智能应用，并将其用作课程开发和实施的平台和教育媒体；2)为工程专业高年级学生开发一门新的跨学科课程《工程问题解决的人工智能工具》；3)通过将创新的人工智能应用案例研究整合到现有的12门土木工程初级和高级课程中，丰富现有的课程；4)通过托管基于服务器的智能数据库来促进跨学科的学术环境；以及5)支持本科生早期参与研究。这些项目活动可以作为其他希望加强工程和技术专业本科教育的机构的典范。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Targeted Infusion Projects supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue STEM graduate programs and/or careers. The project at Texas Southern University seeks to infuse innovative electrical and computer engineering specialized artificial intelligence (AI) tools into traditional engineering problem-solving routines with a problem-based learning approach to bridge current curricula gaps, enhance engineering students' problem-solving and critical thinking skills, expose them to new technology, prepare them for diverse and multidisciplinary workforce requirements, and attract and encourage students to pursue professional engineering licensure or post-graduate studies in engineering field. The activities and strategies are evidence-based and a strong plan for formative and summative evaluation is part of the project.There are five key objectives: 1) to develop an interactive and comprehensive intelligent database to document, compare, and analyze cutting-edge AI applications in the civil engineering field and use it as the platform and educational media for curricula development and implementation; 2) to develop one new interdisciplinary course "AI Tools for Engineering Problem Solving" for senior engineering students; 3) to enrich current curricula by integrating innovative AI application case studies into twelve existing civil engineering junior and senior level courses; 4) to foster an interdisciplinary academic setting by hosting a server-based intelligent database; and 5) to support undergraduate students' early involvement in research. The project activities can serve as a model for other institutions that desire to strengthen undergraduate education in their engineering and technology programs.