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A framework for design engineering education in a global context

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2010

Andrew J. Wodehouse ,
Hilary J. Grierson ,
Caroline Breslin ,
Ozgur Eris ,
William J. Ion ,
Larry J. Leifer  and
Ade Mabogunje
Andrew J. Wodehouse
Affiliation:
Department of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Hilary J. Grierson
Affiliation:
Department of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Caroline Breslin
Affiliation:
Department of Learning Services, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Ozgur Eris
Affiliation:
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Needham, Massachusetts, USA
William J. Ion
Affiliation:
Department of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Larry J. Leifer
Affiliation:
Center for Design Research, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
Ade Mabogunje
Affiliation:
Center for Design Research, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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Abstract

This paper presents a framework for teaching design engineering in a global context using innovative technologies to enable distributed teams to work together effectively across international and cultural boundaries. The Digital Libraries for Global Distributed Innovative Design, Education, and Teamwork (DIDET) Framework represents the findings of a 5-year project conducted by the University of Strathclyde, Stanford University, and Olin College that enhanced student learning opportunities by enabling them to partake in global, team-based design engineering projects, directly experiencing different cultural contexts and accessing a variety of digital information sources via a range of innovative technology. The use of innovative technology enabled the formalization of design knowledge within international student teams as did the methods that were developed for students to store, share, and reuse information. Coaching methods were used by teaching staff to support distributed teams and evaluation work on relevant classes was carried out regularly to allow ongoing improvement of learning and teaching and show improvements in student learning. Major findings of the 5-year project include the requirement to overcome technological, pedagogical, and cultural issues for successful eLearning implementations. The DIDET Framework encapsulates all the conclusions relating to design engineering in a global context. Each of the principles for effective distributed design learning is shown along with relevant findings and suggested metrics. The findings detailed in the paper were reached through a series of interventions in design engineering education at the collaborating institutions. Evaluation was carried out on an ongoing basis and fed back into project development, both on the pedagogical and the technological approaches.

Keywords

Design EducationDesign EngineeringDigital LibrariesDistributed Working
Type
Special Issue Articles
Information
AI EDAM , Volume 24 , Issue 3: Design Pedagogy: Representations and Processes , August 2010 , pp. 367 - 378
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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