ABSTRACT
Educators, researchers, and policy makers have advocated student
involvement for some time as an essential aspect of meaningful
learning. In the past twenty years engineering educators have
implemented several means of better engaging their undergraduate
students, including active and cooperative learning, learning
communities, service learning, cooperative education, inquiry and
problem-based learning, and team projects. This paper focuses on
classroom-based pedagogies of engagement, particularly
cooperative and problem-based learning. It includes a brief
history, theoretical roots, research support, summary of practices,
and suggestions for redesigning engineering classes and programs
to include more student engagement. The paper also lays out the
research ahead for advancing pedagogies aimed at more fully
enhancing students’ involvement in their learning.
Keywords: cooperative learning, problem-based learning, student
engagement