Event
CHBE Seminar: Dr. Cheryl Bodnar, Assoc. Prof., Experiential Engr Educ., Henry M. Rowan Col. of Engr.
Friday, October 7, 2022
11:00 a.m.
Room 2108 Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Building
Patricia Lorenzana
301 405 1935
plorenza@umd.edu
Designing for the Future: Building a Curriculum that Fosters the Skills ChEs Need to Know
Chemical engineers that graduate from our programs are entering into a vastly different workforce than in prior generations. Our ChE graduates will grapple with complex multidisciplinary problems, will need to think outside the box when creating solutions, and apply a diverse range of skills to effectively translate solutions to market. As chemical engineering educators, we are faced with the impossible dilemma of delivering all of the technical content our students need to know while also building out the professional skillsets that our students will need to be successful in their career. To tackle this challenge, we must be creative in the approaches that we use in the curriculum to be able to accomplish these simultaneous goals. Two pedagogical methods that can be applied to achieve this outcome are game-based learning and integration of entrepreneurial mindset. Games are powerful for teaching as they provide an environment where it is safe to fail and can help motivate individuals to work to the edge of their capabilities. Meanwhile, entrepreneurial mindset development can help students to challenge current solutions and connect knowledge across their courses to develop innovative ideas that provide value. Examples of the use of both of these pedagogies in engineering classrooms will be discussed along with best practices on how they can be incorporated into ChE classes.
