Computing Equipment for Civil Engineering Education

Abstract

The role of computers as instructional equipment is discussed. It is argued that general purpose software tools (e.g., spreadsheets, equation solvers) significantly and qualitatively change the way in which students (and professional engineers) can think about problems. For this reason, ability to use the personal computer is not merely an educational “end‐product,” it is a necessary step in further learning of engineering principles. Mere “computer literacy” is not enough; the student must be comfortable with the use of the machine as part of his everyday learning process. Ready access to such computers therefore becomes of major importance in engineering education.