Assessment of Communications and Collaborative Learning in Civil Engineering Education

Abstract

Recently, employers have indicated that they are not totally satisfied with the individualistic approach of the average engineering graduate. This may be due to the fact that, today, in many companies, team goals, team contributions, and team rewards often supersede individual actions. In fact, some authorities believe that the development of critical thinking, collaborative learning, communication, and leadership skills is vital for engineering programs, as well as for students. The findings of this study suggest that students have accepted the concept of collaborative teaching and learning. As an example, the evaluation of student-teaching presentations was found to be above average with scores greater than “B” for all categories. In addition, comments indicate that a course utilizing the concepts of collaborative learning and teamwork was interesting and informative and could be of assistance to respondents in future endeavors. Studies also indicate that undergraduates prefer classroom discussion and problem solving, group interaction, teamwork, and the opportunity for student input rather than formal lectures. Also, the results suggest students perceive that they have mastered communication skills in their civil engineering classwork. For comparative purposes, the findings of this investigation can be utilized by other institutions and departments that may wish to study their curriculum.