Engineering Better Projects

Abstract

The requirements for a successful career in the 21^st century are completely different than they were in the 20th century. With the ever changing technological advances and new problems being identified daily, we must prepare students for jobs and challenges that possibly do not even exist today. Therefore, students must be equipped with problem-solving skills that enable them to systematically find solutions regardless of the specific problem they face. In addition, the Internet has made information easily and quickly accessible, which has caused a shift from the need for memorization to learning how to acquire valid information and create new information based on observations and analysis. Machines have also decreased the need for unskilled labor, making it vital that our students know how to apply concepts instead of merely understanding concepts. These new demands are the reason engineering, Project-Based Learning (PBL), and the design process are now a focus in 21^st century curricula.