New paradigms for engineering education

A paradigm shift is taking place in engineering education, driven by ABET, changing expectations of employers, the rapidly changing state-of-the-art of pedagogy, and many other forces. Minor modifications in current teaching practices will not solve the current problems. Teaching success in today's world requires a new approach to instruction. This article starts by summarizing the paradigm we're leaving behind at various rates in colleges and universities across the country. We then present our rake on the paradigm we're entering into, explore implications of the changing paradigm for students and faculty, and close by offering some suggestions for fostering change. The aim of this article is to stimulate thinking about the changing nature of engineering education and to encourage the reader to engage in reflection and conversation.