A New “Target-Seeking Style” Teaching Idea for Teaching General Education Courses in Large Categories in Engineering Universities

Abstract

General education is a crucial aspect of undergraduate education, providing both knowledge and quality education. General education courses, encompassing all majors and grades, form the cornerstone of undergraduate education in engineering universities. Especially amidst the current evolution of undergraduate education and talent cultivation within engineering universities, under the new circumstances arising from initiatives such as the plan for nurturing outstanding engineers, the establishment of new engineering disciplines, and the implementation of enrollment and undergraduate course development, the teaching of large-category general education courses assumes a pivotal role. It contributes significantly to advancing academic disciplines and majors, fostering the scientific literacy of undergraduates, nurturing a spirit of inquiry, and enhancing their ability to make informed decisions regarding majors and careers. This paper delves into the fundamental purpose and significance of teaching general education courses in engineering universities under these new circumstances, focusing on the typical challenges encountered in the teaching process. Subsequently, the authors utilize the teaching of a large-category general education course, namely “Introduction to Nanomaterials and Their Development Frontiers,” as a platform for pedagogical reform. They propose a novel “target-seeking style“ teaching approach for general education courses within broader categories and explore innovative teaching methodologies aimed at addressing the common challenges associated with these courses. Ultimately, the aim is to cultivate a balanced blend of specialization and generalization among undergraduate students, thereby addressing the common issues encountered in general education teaching and realizing the overarching goal of fostering high-quality technical talents with a well-rounded skill set at the undergraduate level.