Work in progress - implantation of a collaborative student-centered learning environment in a wireless technology course

Abstract

Engineering students face their professional future with uncertainty partly because of a poor understanding of the industry and careers opportunities. This problem can be tackled by designing an engineering curriculum that includes courses embodying both technical and professional contents. In this paper we report the preliminary results of the implantation of a lifelong, collaborative student-centered learning environment that emphasizes both technical and professional aspects of engineering. A semi-public Wiki database was used in a course on wireless technologies for senior electrical engineering students. Wiki-entries were created by students under teacher supervision, and were intended to provide an overview of a wireless technology, companies in the sector and careers opportunities. Student's gain of knowledge and level of satisfaction, and the degree of utilization of the Wiki were analyzed based on student's marks, student surveys, log files tracking the Wiki activity, and the quality of the Wiki entries. Results are positive and indicate that students have understood the importance of approaching their professional future in a collaborative way.