Lead Example Interlinked Curriculum for Action-Oriented Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Globalization and digitization make it necessary to teach students of mechanical engineering early about complex, interlinked and critical thinking through innovative teaching and learning concepts. At Ravensburg-Weingarten University (RWU), Digitization in the age of Industry 4.0 means networking across borders. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering has been pursuing a curriculum networking approach in teaching for several semesters. Didactic core element is a product lead example, which connects the courses showing cross-links to the later occupational field. The objective is to impart the required competences to the engineers of tomorrow, in a manner that is as application-oriented as possible. At the same time student satisfaction and self-directed engagement with new teaching content is strengthened by the use of new media and methods like problem-based learning. By including the institutional environment, teaching at RWU is identified as a joint task. In order to involve the students more in design processes of teaching, interviews are held regularly at RWU. Accompanying research results have shown that this approach bears fruit and offers further potential in terms of student heterogeneity and the versatility of modern mechanical engineering.