Teaching Communication, Interpersonal and Decision-Making Skills in Engineering Courses Supported by Technology
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Date
2009
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
TEMPUS PUBLICATIONS
Abstract
Communication, interpersonal and decision-making skills 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.
Description
Keywords
face-to-face computer-supported collaborative learning, CSCL, participatory classroom, communication skills, social skills, one-to-one learning, constructivist learning, small group learning, TEACHERS, STUDENTS